RELHS (RETIRED EMPLOYEES LIBERALIZED HEALTH SCHEME)

 RELHS RETIRED EMPLOYEES LIBERALIZED HEALTH SCHEME IRMM 2000, Sub-Section (11) Retired Employees Para 612 A “Retires Employees Liberalized Health Scheme[1]1997 ('RELHS-1997”)

1) Retired Railway employees covered under RELHS-97 will be provided with full medical facilities as admissible to serving employees in respect of medical treatment, investigations, diet, and reimbursement of claims for treatment in Govt. or recognized non railway hospitals. They will also be eligible for

a) ambulance services

b) medical passes

c) home visits

d) medical attendance for first two pregnancies of married daughters at concessional rates and

e) Treatment of private servants as applicable to serving railway employees.

2) For the purpose of d) of sub para (1)above special identification cards will be issued duly affixing photographs of married daughters with clear instructions on the card which shall read " ONLY FOR CONFINEMENT AND TREATMENT DURING ANTE-NATAL AND POST NATAL PERIODS FOR THE FIRST TWO PREGNANCIES AT CONCESSIONAL RATES"

3) Eligibility: Minimum 20 years of qualifying service in the Railways will be necessary for joining the scheme and the following categories of persons will be eligible to join the same: Condition of 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 harness. 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 purposeof 20 years qualifying service for joining RELHS –97.

 

(i)             All serving Railway employees desirous of joining the scheme will be eligible to join it inaccordance with the procedure laid down herein under “Mode of Joining”,

(ii)            (ii) All retired Railway employees who were members of the old RELHS will automatically be included in the RELHS ’97.

(iii)          (iii) Spouse of the Railway employee who dies in harness. These orders are not applicable to those Railway servants who quit service by resignation.

4) Family/Dependents Definition of ‘family’ for the purpose of this scheme will bethe same as in respect of the serving Railway employees. The definition of “dependent” will be the same as in the Pass Rules.

 

5) Rate of contribution

 

a) For joining RELHS ’97, one time contribution equal to the last month’s basic pay will have to be made at the time of retirement by those opting to join the scheme. The persons who are already members of the existing RELHS are not required to make any fresh payment. However, those who have joined the existing RELHS after 1.1.96 will have to pay the difference of one time contribution on account of introduction of 5th pay commission’s revised pay scales i.e. 1.1.96. It will be the responsibility of the Railway Administration to realize the amount due from the concerned RELHS members.

 

b) In respect of pre 96 retirees the basis for the one time contribution will be the revised pension drawn by the retired railway employee for joining the RELHS-97. The rate of contribution shall be calculated as under.

 

i) For employees who retired before 1-1-96: Revised basic pension as on 1-1-96 including commuted value (Gross pension) multiplied by the figure of two.

ii) all those who retired prior to 1.1.96 and joined RELHS between 1.1.96 and 30.9.96 are required to pay a onetime contribution equal to their last pay drawn

iii) For family pensioners: A sum equivalent to double the amount of their revised normal family pension as on 1-1-96

iv) For SRPF Optees : For those SRPF Optees or their widows for whom ex-gratia payment has been approved on the basis of the recommendations of the V CPC, a onetime contribution at twice the ex-gratia monthly payment may be deposited.

(Rly Bd's Letter NO2000/H/28/1(RELHS) dt 23-06-2000)

 

6) RELHS-97 is mandatory for all Railway employees retiring on or after 31-5- 2012. Vide Rly. B. L. No.2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court case Dt 24/11/2021

 

7) Mandatory Subscription deduction from DCRG Bill at the time of superannuation: Level 1-5 : Rs. 30,000/-, Level 6 : Rs.54,000/-, Level 7-11: Rs. 78,000/- & Level 12 & above: Rs. 1,20,000/

 

8) The benefits under the scheme will be limited to outdoor treatment of retired railway employee and his/her spouse in Railway hospitals/health units.

 

9) The beneficiary may avail of the facilities from the hospital where he/she is registered irrespective of the railways he/she has retired from.

 

10) Free supply of medicines and drugs ordinarily stocked in Railway hospitals for the treatment of outpatients may be permitted by the railway doctor treating the case, who may also refer the case to the Hony. Consultant attached to the railway hospitals for which no separate charges will be levied. Routine 4 A Guide Book for ALL the Retired Employees examination of blood, urine and stool including blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood urea examination and routine Chest x-ray P.A view and routine E.C.G may be done free.

11) The facility for outdoor treatment for chronic diseases like T.B., Leprosy, Cancer and Diabetes etc. are as available to serving railway employees may be extended.

12) In the event of death of the beneficiary /beneficiaries before the expiry of the term for which contributions have been paid, the contribution already paid is not refundable to their heirs.

13) No reimbursement is allowed in cases where the beneficiaries have to take medical treatment in places other than the railway hospitals. If referred to other railway hospitals for indoor treatment charges may be recovered by the treating hospitals.

14) No medical pass can be issued

15) Advance payment covering bed charges for 10 days as also other expected dues in full, subject to a minimum of Rs. 50/- is a precondition for admission of a beneficiary as an indoor patient. Settlement of dues may be finalized at the time of discharge of the patient.

16) Availing Medical facilities without the card:

i) No medical treatment facilities should be provided to a Railway beneficiary if the medical identity card/RELHS/RECHS/UMID card is not produced for the purpose

 

ii) Retired railway employees/their eligible family members can use attested copies of RELHS identity card when one of the family members moves out of station carrying RELHS card. Attested copy of the medical identity card will be considered a valid document, for availing outdoor medical facilities at Railway Hospitals and Health Units for short duration up to 10 days.

 

17) Medical attendance and treatment- Special Wards in Govt. /Recognized Hospitals: The revised list for entitlement of wards in private empanelled hospitals for Railway beneficiaries are as follows (Vide: Rly.Bd.L.No. 2016/H-1/11/69/Hospital Recognition Dt 08/05/2018)

 

 

18) Diet Charges: (Vide Rly.Bd. L. No. No. 2005/H/23/6 dt 13/06/2018)

(I) Monetary ceiling limit of Rs. 44,900/- (after implementation of 7th CPC) of basic pay/pension/family pension for the purpose of providing free diet to railway medical beneficiaries; 5 A Guide Book for ALL the Retired Employees

 

(II) Removal of provision of concessional diet charges contained in instructions dated 29.02.2010; and

 

(III) Monetary ceiling s. 69,700/- of basic pay/pension/family pension for the purpose of providing free diet to railway medical beneficiaries suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) or mental disease. (Ref:)

 

References: 1) Railway Board’s letter No Health 86/H/6 -2/ dated 28 .09.1988

2) Railway Board's letter No. 94/H/28/2 dated 02.01.1995.

3) Railway Board's lettNo.66/H/6-2/21 Dated 12 .09.1995

4) Rly Board's letter No. 96/H/6-2/91 dated 22.03.1996

5) Rly Board's letter No. 97/H/28/1, dated 23.10.1997

6) Railway Board’s letter No. 97/H/28/1 dated 21.03.2001

7) Railway Boards letter No. 2000/H/28/1/RELHS dated 04-05-2001

8) Railway Board’s letter No. 2002/H/28/1/RELHS dated 21.05.2002

9) Railway Board's letter No.2003/H/28/l/RELHS dated 28.01.2005

10) Railway Board's letter No. 2004/H/28/1 RELHS/Card dated 22.03.2005

11) Railway Board's letter No. 2004/H/PNM/NFIR dated 03-06-2005

12) Railway Board’s letter No.2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 21.10.2005

13) Railway Board's letter No. 2005/H/28/1/RELHS dated 31-10-2005

14) Railway Board's letter No.2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 30-12-2005

15) Railway Board's letter No. PC-V/2006/PNM/NFIR/3 dated 20-07-2006

16) Railway Board's letter No.2003/H/28/l/RELHS dated 10.05.2006

17) Railway Board's letter No. 2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 10-01-2007

18) Railway Board's letter No. 99/H/6-4/Policy New Delhi, dated 11.04.2007

19) Railway Board's letter No. 2006/H/28/1/RELHS dated 18-05-2007

20) Rly Bd. L. No..200SIH16-1/Policy/I6 New Delhi, dated 07-02-2008

21) Railway Board’s letter No. 2003/H/28/I/RELHS dated 16.03.2009

22) Railway Board’s letter No. 2003/H/28/I/RELHS dated 08.04.2009

23) Railway Board Letter No: 2003/H/28/1/RELHS dated 08.07.2009

24) Railway Board’s ltr. No. 2005/H/28/1/RELHS dated 31.08.2009

25) Railway Board’s ltr. No. PC-V/2006/A/Med/1 dated 15.09.2009 [RBE No.168/09]

26) Railway Board’s ltr. No. 2007/H/28/1/RELHS/Misc dated 30.11.2009

27) Railway Board’s letter No. PC-V/2011/A/Med/1 dated 26.08.2011

28) Railway Board Letter No: 2011/H/28/1/RELHS/Court Case dated 31.05.2012

29) Rly.Bd.L.No. 2016/H-1/11/69/Hospital Recognition dated 08.05.2018