The Telangana government has made a significant announcement just ahead of the Dasara festival, unveiling the Employee Health Care Trust (EHCT) initiative. This endeavor is designed to enhance the health and well-being of the state’s employees, pensioners, and their families by providing them with access to high-quality medical treatment through a cashless system.
The origins of this initiative trace back to the recommendations of the first Pay Revision Commission, which proposed the creation of a specialized health scheme for employees and pensioners. To transform this vision into reality, the government envisioned a dedicated trust, with contributions from employees and pensioners matched by government funds. Notably, employee unions have enthusiastically pledged to contribute one percent of their basic salary to support this noble cause.
Key highlights of the EHCT initiative include the trust being chaired by the Chief Secretary of the government, with members consisting of Secretaries from Finance, Health, Education, General Administration, Home, and the Director of Medical Education. The CEO of EHS (Employee Health Scheme) will serve as the Member Secretary. Additionally, the government will nominate six employee representatives and two pensioner representatives to serve on the board, providing policy recommendations to the government. A dedicated government servant will assume the role of CEO for EHS. Both employees and pensioners will make monthly contributions, automatically deducted from their salaries, with the government matching these contributions.
Furthermore, the government has already allocated 15 positions to the Arogyasree Trust to ensure efficient management of the Employee Health Scheme (EHS).
Finance and Health Minister Harish Rao expressed his appreciation to the Chief Minister for this decision, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of its employees, pensioners, and their families.
The introduction of the Employee Health Care Trust (EHCT) represents a commendable stride towards prioritizing the health and welfare of Telangana’s public servants and retirees, demonstrating the government’s dedication to their overall well-being.
