Cabinet Approves Amendment to Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2014

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

07-February-2014 20:46 IST

Cabinet Approves Amendment to Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2014

The Cabinet on 6 February, 2014 approved the proposal of the Department of Disability Affairs to incorporate amendments in the proposed Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, which are:-

- Definition of person with disability in terms of interaction with barriers also;

- High support needs person enabled to take independent and inform decision also;

- Definition of low vision will be notified by the Government;

- The appropriate Government to take necessary steps to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities;

- No person with disability will be discriminated on grounds of disability;

- Appropriate Governments to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others, in all aspects of life to have equal rights as any other person before law;

- Recognizing legal capacity of person with disability, limited guardianship would be the norm, to enable the person with disability to take joint decision with legal guardian;

- Person with disability would also have the right to appeal against the decision of appointment of legal guardian;

- Disability Certificate to be valid across the country;

- Educational institutions funded and recognized will have to provide inclusive education for children with disability;

- The appropriate Governments to constitute to expert committee with representation of persons with disabilities for identification of posts for Government employment for persons with disabilities;

- Review period shortened from 5 years to 3 years in case of identified posts;

- 5 per cent vacancies reserved for persons with disabilities will be computed against the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength;

- National Commission and State Commission will have power to exempt any post in an establishment from the purview of reservation for persons with disabilities;

- For greater coverage and employability in Government sector, the appropriate Governments to prescribe relaxation for upper age limit for employment of PwDs;

- National Commission shall formulate and enforce regulations.

Treatment from CGHS Empanelled Hospitals

Government empanels private hospitals under CGHS for indoor treatment and treatment can be undertaken with prior permission or under emergency. OPD medicines are issued by CGHS Wellness Centres on the prescription by CGHS Medical officers / Government specialists only.

In case of cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, neuro-surgery, renal transplantation and hip/knee joint replacement surgery, there is provision for issue of permission for post-operative follow up treatment from the same empanelled hospitals, where the initial treatment was taken with prior permission. In such cases OPD medicines as per the available brand name / generic name are issued by CGHS Wellness Centres.

In respect of other post-operative cases, where permission was granted, there is provision for issue of OPD medicines on the prescriptions of empanelled hospital for up to one month.

This was stated by Shri GhulamNabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Cashless Facility TO CGHS Beneficiaries

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) empanels private hospitals for providing inpatient medical treatment to its beneficiaries. They may avail the requisite treatment with prior permission for procedures advised by CGHS and other government specialists / CMO–in-charge. CGHS pensioner beneficiaries are entitled for cashless medical treatment in the CGHS empanelled private hospitals. The empanelled private hospitals under CGHS provide treatment to the pensioners on credit /cashless basis for the procedures for which they are empanelled.

However, in case of emergency conditions empanelled hospitals are expected to provide treatment to pensioners on credit basis, even for conditions for which they are not empanelled and they are expected to shift the patient to another empanelled hospital after stabilization as per the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed with government.

In case of violation of the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement, suitable action, including depanelment can be initiated against errant hospitals.

This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB