Telangana is set to strengthen the implementation of its Employees’ Health Scheme (EHS), with 354 private hospitals already empanelled to provide healthcare services to government employees, pensioners and their dependants.
More hospitals have also been brought into the scheme through the deemed-empanelment system. The state government has directed officials to engage with hospital managements to ensure that beneficiaries receive services effectively under the scheme.
The government is also expediting the issuance of EHS health cards to eligible beneficiaries. Officials have been directed to treat the employee welfare scheme as a priority and ensure that implementation issues are addressed without delay.
The review also focused on improving coordination between the EHS administration and empanelled hospitals to ensure smoother access to healthcare services for employees and pensioners.
The government’s focus on healthcare access comes alongside other welfare measures being considered for workers across Telangana. The state is likely to take a decision soon on revising autorickshaw fares, with the existing fare structure having remained unchanged since 2012 despite a rise in operating and maintenance costs.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said on September 1 that the government was considering a revision of autorickshaw fares. The issue was discussed as part of a review of initiatives in the Transport department and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation.
Alongside the proposed fare revision, the state plans to establish a welfare board for autorickshaw workers. The board is expected to provide a dedicated mechanism for addressing welfare-related concerns of workers in the sector.
The government is also planning financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh to support the conversion of petrol and diesel autorickshaws in Hyderabad. The assistance is intended to help workers retrofit their vehicles as the state looks at cleaner transport options.
