Call to reimburse OPD costs under Agrahara scheme

by Ananda Kannangara

The Public Sector Trade Union Committee (PSTUC) callupon the Government to reimburs costs for OPD treatment by public servants under the "Agrahara Medical Insurance Scheme".

Convenor, (PSTUC), W. H. Piyadasa said that terminating the once reimbursed OPD treatment costs by the Government had severely affected a large number of low income public servants.

According to the PSTUC, Convenor, at least ten Government affiliated trade unions will meet Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya in this regard next week.

At present nearly one million public servants are members of the 'Agrahara Medical Scheme' Rs. 75 is deducted monthly from the salaries of each employee for the Medical Scheme.

Reimbursements are currently made for operations, surgeries and to obtain indoor treatments at Government hospitals and private nursing homes.

Reimbursements are also made for child births and to purchase spectacles.

Piyadasa said only a few public servants who undergo surgery benefit from this scheme and this benefit should be extended to a large number of employees who generally take outdoor treatment.