Indian Railways digitises treatment referrals for over 66 lakh IRHS beneficiaries

NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways has significantly revamped its healthcare administration, mandating digital referrals by in-house doctors. These referrals are needed if a patient is sent for treatment at one of the roughly 1,500 hospitals empanelled with the Health Department of the Indian Railways for cashless treatment.

This move is expected to impact around 66 lakh existing beneficiaries under the Indian Railway Medical Manual (IRMM). Of these, 12.5 lakh are serving Indian Railway employees while 18 lakh are retired. The remaining around 35 lakh beneficiaries are dependents.

IRMM administers a healthcare program, like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), providing subsidised medical care. CGHS supports around 50 lakh Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents as beneficiaries through some 2600 empanelled hospitals.


In a bid to plug graft, nexus, patient harassment and redundant processes, Railway doctors have also been barred from recommending any particular private empanelled hospital for the referral treatment. Beneficiaries will instead be free to choose from among any of the empanelled hospitals.

Patients will also be able to rate the treatment they get at empanelled hospitals. This will ensure improved quality of service, officials said.

Besides the digital footprint, the Railway Board has also decided that multiple referrals will not be needed for cancer treatment. This will ensure comprehensive care of cancer patients. A single reference will be sufficed for cashless cancer treatment of IRHS beneficiaries, as per policy issued.