Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has introduced a salary-based cashless inpatient treatment scheme for its employees and pensioners at SVP Hospital, while retaining the existing reimbursement system for OPD treatment and medicines.

Under the new policy, room categories at the hospital will be allotted based on employees’ pay levels under the Seventh Pay Commission or grade pay under the Sixth Pay Commission.

According to the scheme, officers with Level 12 or grade pay above Rs 7,600 will be entitled to deluxe rooms. Employees in Levels 8 to 11 will be accommodated in double-sharing rooms, while those in Levels 6 and 7 will be provided triple-sharing rooms. Employees with grade pay below Rs 4,200 will be treated in general wards.

The cashless facility will apply only to inpatient treatment, while the existing medical reimbursement process for OPD consultations and post-discharge medicines will continue as before.

The scheme will benefit current AMC employees, pensioners and their dependents. Employees and pensioners receiving cash medical allowance will have to deposit Rs 3,000 annually to avail themselves of the cashless treatment facility.

As per the guidelines, medicines prescribed by doctors must be purchased from the hospital’s medical store or public health centre. If the required medicines are unavailable there and are purchased from outside, reimbursement will be provided according to existing rules.

Furthermore, if an employee opts for a higher-category room than the one prescribed under their pay grade, the additional expense will have to be borne personally.

Until the proposed e-governance system becomes operational, beneficiaries will be able to avail themselves of the cashless treatment facility using an identity card, health booklet, salary slip or pension card. DeshGujarat