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Railway Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS-1997)

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Railway Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS-1997)

Retired Railway employees covered under RELHS-97 will be provided with all medical facilities equally as serving employees. This includes:
 Medical treatment.
 Diet.
 Reimbursement of claims for treatment in Govt. or recognized non-railway hospitals (PrivateReferal Hospitals).
 Ambulance services.
 Medical passes.
 Home visits.
 Medical attendance for the first two pregnancies of married daughters at concessional rates.
Treatment of private servants as applicable to serving railway employees.

RELHS Identity card (UMID Card)

RELHS Identity cards ( UMID Cards) will be issued by the Personnel Branch of the concerned Railways. Identity cards are issued with photographs of all the beneficiaries. In the case of married daughters included in the card photos of them to be provided with marked on the card as ” ONLY FOR CONFINEMENT AND TREATMENT DURING ANTE-NATAL AND POST NATAL PERIODS FOR THE FIRST TWO PREGNANCIES AT CONCESSIONAL RATES”.

Click here to know more about UMID

Eligibility for RELHS -1997 Scheme and Obtaining UMID Card

  • Employees who have completed 20 years of service and fulfill other criteria to make them eligible for post-retirement complimentary passes only are eligible to become members of the Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS)
  • RELHS-97 is mandatory for all retiring Railway employees for retiring employees from 31/05/2012. (Ref 9)
  • A minimum of 20 years of qualifying service in the Railways will be necessary for joining the scheme.
  • The condition of a minimum of 20 years of qualifying service for joining RELHS-97 is not applicable in the case of medically invalidated employees and the spouses of employees who die in harnesses.(Ref 13)
  • 50% of the period from the date of ‘Temporary Status’ to the date of ‘regularization’ in respect of Ex-casual labors will be counted for the purpose of 20 years of qualifying service for joining RELHS
  • Surviving spouses of the deceased retired railway employees who died after superannuation are eligible to join RELHS-97, subject to fulfillment of other relevant conditions. (Ref 7 )
  • RELHS is not open to Railway servants who resign from service.
  • Resignation submitted by the Railway employees on permanent absorption in PSUs is to be taken as “Technical Resignation” and they should be permitted to join RELHS-97 subject to fulfillment of the conditions prescribed in this regard. (Ref 10)
  • Employees who are dismissed from service are not eligible to join RELHS -97. (Ref 15)
  • Family/Dependents Family members and dependent relatives who are eligible under the Pass Rules are eligible for treatment under RELHS.

Rate of contribution (VII Pay Commission)

S No Pay matrix level as per VII PC Subscription Rate (Rs.)
1 Level 1-5 – 30000
2 Level 6 -54000
3 Level 7-11 -78000
4 Level 12 & above -12000

Railway Board Letter: https://tinyurl.com/2p8yehtp

Railway Board re-opened the RELHS scheme on 31.05.2012 with the following conditions:
(a) For Pre-March 2009 retirees – The RELHS-97 will remain open-ended with a lock-in period of six months for referral outside the Railway Hospital. This lock-in period can be relaxed only in an emergency provided the patient is either admitted or visits the Railway Hospital and the facilities for the treatment are not available in Railway Hospital. Such referrals are to be processed only on the recommendation of a specially constituted Medical Board.

(b) For March 2009 and onwards retirees – The RELHS-97 will remain open for a period of another year from the date of issue of the letter for all those retired Railway personnel who have not joined the scheme for one reason or the other. The lock-in period of six months as applicable for pre-March 2009 retirees shall be applicable for these retirees also.

Henceforth joining RELHS-97 has been made mandatory for all retiring Railway personnel without any exit clause whatsoever.

Fixed Medical Allowance

Admissibility of Fixed Medical Allowance for Retired Railway Employees

  • Fixed Medical Allowance shall be granted to those Railway pensioner/family pensioners who are residing beyond 2.5 KMs from the nearest Railway Hospital/health unit if they do not avail of OPD facility at Railway hospitals/health units.
  •  This fixed medical allowance is given to meet the day-to-day medical expenses.
  • The beneficiaries are not entitled to receive outdoor treatment from Health Unit /Railway Hospital etc. except in cases of Chronic Diseases. Some of the common illnesses, which are treated as chronic diseases are given below:
  1. Arthritis and related conditions
  2. Cardiovascular disease
  3. Cancer of any part of the body
  4. Diabetes mellitus
  5. Epilepsy disorders
  6. Obesity / chronic weight loss
  7. Tuberculosis
  8. AIDS
  9. Oral Health Problem
  10. Chronic skin disorders

Click here to refer Railway Board Letter:

https://tinyurl.com/ykfvs97s

Form for opting for Fixed Medical allowance https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYpxGn7B8GgQtxACZSBBWnKx6CXIp3eV/view?usp=sharing

References:

  1. Rule No. 612 of Indian Railway Medical Manual
  2. Railway Board’s letter No. 2003/H/28/I/RELHS dated 16.03.2009
  3. Railway Board’s ltr. No. PC-V/2006/A/Med/1 dated 15.09.09 [RBE No.168/09] [PC-V/503]
  4. Railway Board’s ltr. No. 2005/H/28/1/RELHS dated 31.08.2009
  5. Railway Board’s letter No. 2004/H/28/1 RELHS/Card dated 22.3.05
  6. Railway Board’s letter No. 2004/H/PNM/NFIR dated 03-06-2005
  7. Railway Board’s letter No.2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 21.10.2005
  8. Railway Board’s letter No. 2005/H/28/1/RELHS dated 31-10-2005
  9. Railway Board Letter No: 2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court Case dated 31/05/2012 of ED/ Health
  10. Railway Board’s ltr. No. 2007/H/28/1/RELHS/Misc dated 30.11.2009
  11. Railway Board’s letter No.2006/H/28/1/RELHS dated 18-05-2007
  12. Railway Board’s letter No. 2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 10-1-2007
  13. Railway Board’s letter No.2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 30-12-2005
  14. Railway Board’s letter No. PC-V/2006/PNM/NFIR/3 dated 20-07-06 (RBE No.96/06)
  15. Railway Board’s letter No. 2002/H/28/1/RELHS dated 21.5.2002
  16. Railway Board’s letter No. 97/H/28/1 dated 21.3.2001
  17. Railway Boards letter No. 2000/H/28/1/RELHS dated 04-05-2001
  18. Railway Board’s letter No. 2003/H/28/I/RELHS dated 08.04.2009
  19. Railway Board Letter No: 2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 08.07.2009
  20. Railway Board Letter No: 2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court Case dated 31/05/2012 of ED/ Healt

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