TTGDA opposes 1.5 percent pay cut, seeks clarity on health scheme

The Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) has criticised the State Government’s move to deduct 1.5 percent of employees’ basic pay towards the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) without issuing clear guidelines.

Hyderabad: The members of Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) condemned the deduction of 1.5 percent of the basic pay from the salary of employees starting the month of May without first releasing comprehensive EHS guidelines, including details regarding tariffs, treatment packages, empanelled hospitals, eligibility criteria, and implementation mechanisms.

A deduction of 1.5 percent of the basic pay translates to a contribution ranging from approximately Rs 195 per month for an employee at the lowest level of State RPS 2020 to nearly Rs 3,750 per month for an officer in the HAG scale under the 7th UGC Pay Revision, resulting in a wide variation of more than Rs 3,500 per month between contributors, TTGDA on Sunday said.

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In the private insurance sector, such significant differences in premium contributions are generally accompanied by individual-specific insurance packages and benefits. However, under the proposed EHS framework in Telangana, no such individual-specific provisions or differential benefit structures have been notified so far, TTGDA said.

“We therefore urge the State Government to first issue clear and transparent EHS guidelines covering all operational aspects of the scheme and to consider implementing the scheme on an optional basis rather than making it mandatory for all employees,” TTGDA said.