The 8th Pay Commission has not yet been formed, but there is growing speculation that it could propose a new healthcare scheme for central government employees and pensioners, potentially replacing the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
A report states that at least three previous Pay Commissions had already recommended replacing CGHS, pointing to its limited reach as a major issue.
8th Pay Commission May Propose New Healthcare Scheme to Replace CGHS
The 6th Pay Commission proposed an optional healthcare scheme, under which employees and pensioners could voluntarily enroll by paying a fixed contribution.
The 7th Pay Commission, while acknowledging the need for a stronger system, suggested that hospitals empanelled under CS(MA) or ECHS should be integrated into CGHS. This would have expanded its coverage and allowed for cashless treatment.
CGHS has been operational for more than sixty years, serving as a model healthcare facility specifically for central government employees and pensioners.
Currently, CGHS covers around 42 lakh beneficiaries across 80 cities in India.
The scheme provides healthcare through multiple systems of medicine, including Allopathy, Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga, making it a broad yet traditional healthcare model.
8th Pay Comission Pay Matrix
With the 8th Pay Commission on the horizon, employees and pensioners are awaiting clarity on whether CGHS will be strengthened or replaced with a modern healthcare framework that offers better accessibility and benefits.
We had previously reported that at the heart of CPC recommendations is the Pay Matrix, which calculates salaries based on rank and years of service. The fitment factor, used to determine revised basic pay, is expected to increase from 2.57 (under 7th CPC) to 2.86 in the 8th CPC.
Here are some projected pay increases:
- Pay Level 1: From ₹18,000 to ₹51,480
- Pay Level 2: From ₹19,900 to ₹56,914
- Pay Level 3: From ₹21,700 to ₹62,062
- Pay Level 6: From ₹35,400 to ₹1,01,244
- Pay Level 10: From ₹56,100 to ₹1.6 lakh (entry-level IAS/IPS officers)
