Difficulties being faced by Railway Pensioners and Family Pensioners in availing treatment from empanelled hospitals despite possession of valid UMID Cards – Request for uniform implementation of Railway Board’s instructions: Railway Board Order dated 06.07.2026 on issue raised by AIRF
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA भारत सरकार
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS रेल मंत्रालय
(RAILWAY BOARD रेलवे बोर्ड)
No. 2026/H-1/19/1/AIRF-Part(1)
New Delhi, dated 06.07.2026
General Secretary,
All India Railwaymen’s Federation,
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi-110055.
Sub: Difficulties being faced by Railway Pensioners and Family Pensioners in availing treatment from empanelled hospitals despite possession of valid UMID Cards – Request for uniform implementation of Railway Board’s instructions.
Ref: AIRF’s letters no AIRF/101 (203) dated 10.06.2026.
Sir,
I am directed to refer your letter cited under reference above on the above mentioned subject.
In this regard, it is submitted that the issues raised by AIRF have already been addressed by the Railway Board through various letters issued from time to time. Item-wise remarks indicating the relevant Railway Board instructions addressing each of the issues are given below:
| S.No. | Issues raised by AIRF | Remarks |
| (i) | Issue detailed a clarification/advisory all to empanelled hospitals unequivocally stating that every valid UMID Card holder is entitled to avail treatment irrespective of the Railway Zone, Division, Hospital or Health Unit with which the beneficiary is registered. | Section-D of Annexure-I of the Railway Board’s letter no. 2026/1 & Trans. Cell/ Healthcare/Pt-I dated 30.04.2026 addresses the Don’ts/ Irregularities/ inefficient practices in RHs/ HUs in referrals for treatment of Railway patients. |
| (ii) | Advise all Zonal Railways and Principal Chief Medical Directors to communicate the Board’s instructions to every empanelled hospital under their jurisdiction and obtain formal acknowledgement regarding compliance. | In point no. 2 of the Railway Board’s letter no. 2026/1 & Trans. Cell/ Healthcare/Pt-I dated 30.04.2026 Zonal Railway HQr and CMS/MD of RHs are advised for strict compliance of the administrative instructions/ clarification/ guidelines mentioned at Annexure-I.
Further, implementation of the instructions contained in Annexure-I is being monitored at the Railway Board level to ensure their effective compliance. |
| (iii) | Incorporate an explicit provision in all existing and future MoUs with empanelled hospitals clarifying the eligibility of beneficiaries registered with other Railway units and the mechanism for settlement of expenditure. | Any provision of the Draft MoU circulated vide Railway Board’s letter no. 2021/H-1/11/10/MoU dated 20.11.2023 not restrict any Railway beneficiaries for taking treatment at any Railway empanelled hospital.
As per para 1(iii) Railway Board’s letter no. 2024/ I&Trans Cell/ Healthcare/P dated 29.08.2024, all Railway medical beneficiaries are eligible to take treatment at all Railway Hospitals/Health Units and for referral or emergency treatment at any of IR empanelled HCOs (Health Care Organisations like private hospitals, diagnostics, specialists etc.) Advice has also been issued to all Zonal Rlys that all MoUs with empanelled hospitals should be mandatorily executed for treatment of all beneficiaries of Indian Railways (Para i of Section-E of Railway Board’s letter no. 2026/I & Trans. Cell/ Healthcare/Pt-I dated 30.04.2026). Further, vide Railway Board’s letter no. 2021/H-1/11/10/MoU dated 11.03.2022 instructions for projection of funds required were issued. Other then this, Section-F of Annexure-I of the Railway Board’s letter no. 2026/1 & Trans. Cell/ Healthcare/Pt-I dated 30.04.2026 addresses the issue of Bills/payments of HCO, empanelled by more than one RHs/HUs and other issues. |
| (iv) | Establish an effective monitoring and grievance redressal system to promptly address complaints relating to refusal of treatment by empanelled hospitals and to ensure corrective action wherever required. | Point no. 3 of Railway Board’s letter no. 2026/1 & Trans. Cell/ Healthcare/Pt-I dated 30.04.2026 contains instruction regarding redressal of grievances/issues of staff/pensioner/patient.
Further, Railway Board letter no. 2026/H-1/2/2/HMIS-Digital Process Flow & FAQ dated 30.04.2026 also contains instruction regarding rating feedback to be given by Railway patients to Railway empanelled HCOs. |
| (v) | Issue implementation guidelines whenever healthcare policies are introduced or modified, ensuring that policy decisions are disseminated simultaneously to Railway administrations and empanelled hospitals for seamless execution. |
Whenever a new healthcare policy is issued or an existing policy is modified, the instructions are circulated to all Zonal Railways/ Production Units. Further, the concerned Railway administrations disseminate the relevant instructions to empanelled Health Care Organizations (HCOs), wherever required. In addition, periodic meetings/ interactions are held with empanelled HCOs at the Zonal Railway level to address operational issues and ensure smooth implementation of policy decisions. |
DA: As above
(P. M. Meena / पी. एम. मीना)
Director/Health (निदेशक/स्वास्थ्य)
Railway Board (रेलवे बोर्ड)
Ministry of Railways (रेल मंत्रालय)
011-47843135
Email: pooranmal.meena[at]gov.in
COMMENTS