Indian Railway Healthcare Policy on Cancer Treatment: Railway Board Order May, 2025

Indian Railway Healthcare Policy on Cancer Treatment: Railway Board Order 05th May, 2025

भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ,
रेल मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
रेलवे बोर्ड RAILWAY BOARD

No.2025/I & Trans. Cell / Healthcare /2/P
E-office no: 3482216

New Delhi, Date: 05.05.2025

The General Manager DG, CTIs
PCMDs, PHODs, CAO/C DG, RDSO
All Indian Railways

Subject: IR Healthcare Policy on Cancer Treatment – reg.

Ref. :
1) Railway Board letter No. 2024/1 & Trans. Cell / Healthcare/ P dt. 29.08.2024
2) Gol, Ministry of Health & FW, CGHS O.M. No. 215025/19/2024/DIR/ CGHS/ EHS (Comp No. 8281286) dated 28.06.2024.

Towards the policy aim of providing a comprehensive care, treatment and access in cancer cases, the following instructions are being issued for treatment at Tata Memorial Centre Hospital, Institutes of National Importance, Government Hospitals and Empanelled Hospitals.:

1. Validity of Cancer Referrals by the Railway Doctor shall be for a duration of 90 days and during the 90-day duration of the referral the patient may consult two more specialists i.e., up to a total of three specialists; i.e. a-maximum of 6 consultations are allowed during the duration of 3 months; if recommended by the primary specialist at: (i) Tata Memorial Centre Hospital; (ii) Institutes of National Importance (INIs viz. 25 AIIMS, PGI-Chandigarh, PGl-Puducherry and NIMHANS-Bengaluru) in terms of Railway Board letter under ref.1; (iii) Empanelled HCOs of IR or CGHS; and (iv) Government Hospitals (GHs) in terms of CGHS’ O.M. at ref. (2).

2. Tata Memorial Centre Hospital (and its various Centres) —is a Premier Institution for Cancer Treatment recognised by the Gol, Ministry of Health & FW.
   1. No referral / permission / endorsement is required for initial Diagnostics / Tests / Consultation / Investigation at Preventive Oncology Branch or OPD in Tata Memorial Centre’ Hospital (TMCH). The medical reimbursement for such treatment at TMCH shall be as per rates stipulated in IR’s MoU with TMCH or on acutals, whichever is lower, and may include cost of registration, consultation, initial Tests / Medication etc. in OPD.
   2. For medically expedient cancer cases needing referral to TMCH on the basis of OPD/ Consultations / Investigations / Diagnostics /Tests as per para-2A above, the cancer patient may exercise the option of either taking referral from jurisdictional Railway Hospital (RH) (mentioned in patient’s UMID) or take referral from either of IR’s two nodal RHs for TMCH, namely Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial Railway Hospital, Central Railway and Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Western Railway.
   3. Referral by Railway Doctor shall be inclusive of the in-house treatment (Consultation, Investigation, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Surgery etc) within the validity of referral. During IPD treatment, the robotic / laparoscopic / implants / special surgery etc. as allowed under CGHS and including chemotherapy administered, radiation, medicines dispensed, Tests or other diagnostics done, would be covered in the expenses met during the treatment.
   4. Medicines, including post-operative protocol medicines and follow-up medicines, as prescribed shall be provided by the TMCH. In the event medicines are not provided by TMCH it will certify that the medicine was not provided to the patient and the same would be provided by the RH /HU w.r.t. patient’s UMID.
3. Institutes of National Importance (INIs viz. 25 AIIMS, PGI-Chandigarh, PGI-Puducherry and NIMHANS-Bengaluru in terms of Railway Board letter under ref. (1) and Government Hospitals (GHs) in terms of CGHS O.M. under ref. (2)
   1. No referral / permission / endorsement is required for Cancer treatment including OPD/IPD/Consultations/ Investigations/ Diagnostics/ Tests in INIs and GHs.
   2. Reimbursement in such cases shall be as per actuals or city specific CGHS rates, whichever is lower and may include cost of registration, consultation, initial treatment / medication etc. in OPD.
   3. For cancer cases needing referral treatment / IPD on the basis of OPD/ Consultations / Investigations / Diagnostics / Tests as per instant para, the referral would be given by the jurisdictional RH as_ per patient’s UMID.
   4. Referral / Treatment at these INIs and GH shall be inclusive as per para 2-C above.
   5. Medicines, including post-operative protocol medicines and follow-up medicines, as prescribed shall be provided by the INIs / GHs and in the event, it certifies that the medicine was not provided to the patient, the same shall be provided by the RH / HU w.r.t. patient’s UMID.
4. Empanelled Healthcare Organisations (HCOs) of IR and CGHS:
   1. No referral / permission / endorsement is required for Cancer OPD / Consultations / Investigations/ Diagnostics/ Tests (except IPD) in Empanelled HCOs of IR/ CGHS.
   2. Reimbursement in such cases shall be as per actuals or city specific CGHS rates, whichever is lower, and may include cost of registration, consultation, initial treatment / medication etc. in OPD.
   3. For, Cancer cases needing referral treatment /IPD on the basis of OPD/ Consultations / Investigations / Diagnostics /Tests as per instant para 4-A, the referral would be given by the jurisdictional RH as per patient’s UMID.
   4. Referral / Treatment at these Empanelled HCOs (EHs) shall be inclusive of the in-house treatment (Consultation, Investigation, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Surgery etc) within the validity of referral. IPD treatment would be as per IR’s MoU with the respective EH, and chemotherapy administered, radiation, medicines dispensed, Tests or other diagnostics done, would be covered in the expenses met during the treatment. Post-operative protocol/medicines, as prescribed shall be provided by the RH/HU w.r.t. patient’s UMID.

5. IR’s healthcare policy vide Railway Board letter under ref. (1) lays thrust on leveraging IR’s digital healthcare Infra (HMIS linked with HRMS & IPAS), under which, inter-alia, UMID card with pan-IR validity and Digital Referral protocol has been stipulated. In pursuance thereof, following have been decided:-
   5. Single-window Cancer-care: The AGM (for HQrs Zonal RH) and DRMs (for Divisional RH) would nominate a railway doctor as a nodal authority for referral / reimbursement eéc. in all cancer cases, including non-IR cancer patient load under PMJAY, Ayushman Bharat Yojana etc. and as nodal for participation/coordination with National Cancer Grid, National Cancer Registry Programme, Government Cancer Care Centres, NPCDCS, Community Awareness Cancer Screening and Awareness Programmes, ACTREC etc.
   6. Simplified Referral Process for Cancer Treatment e.g. OPD / IPD / Investigations / Diagnostics / Tests and including emergency / post-operative follow-up / referral for further course/s of an ongoing treatment of cancer:
      1. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial Railway Hospital, Central Railway and Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Western Railway as the two nodal RHs on IR for TMCH, Mumbai, shall ensure that the MoU / Agreement with TMCH incorporates the latest provisions / features at par with the MoU /Agreement between TMCH and Gol, Ministry of Health & FW, CGHS. This would be the standard MoU / Agreement for IR and various other centres of TMC.
      2. A designated railway doctor, not below SG, may be nominated by the GM/ AGM of concerned Railway where the TMH centre exists, as single window for TMCH for any co-ordination, guidance / help or paper authentication / authorisation / endorsement / verification etc. requested by the TMCH for any UMID / RELHS beneficiary w.r.t. referral issued by other RH / HU.
      3. Serving Railway Employee and / or their dependent beneficiary, as well as railway pensioner and / or RELHS beneficiaries shall carry UMID Card. Entitlement of the beneficiary shall be indicated in the referral / UMID.
      4. No repeat referral is required for a follow-up treatment w.r.t. on-going treatment (where previous referral has been given). Railway Patients may carry their UMID cards to directly visit TMCH / INIs / GHs /Empanelled HCOs.
6. In terms of Railway Board letter under ref. (1), Health Directorate (Director /Health Policy & Projects) Railway Board is the ‘single point of contact’ (SPOC) for the instant Healthcare Policy and HMIS.

This issues with the approval of DG/RHS and the Railway Board (MF and CRB & CEO).

Please acknowledge receipt and ensure compliance.

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