IRTSA writes to Secretary Finance seeking Fixed Medical Allowance enhancement

The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors Association has written to the Secretary, Finance (Expenditure) demanding the revision of the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for pensioners & family pensioners. The fixed medical allowance (FMA) is the allowance that the Central Government pensioners or family pensioners who live in an area not covered by the CGHS can avail themselves of in lieu of the CGHS's OPD facility.  A  Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Law & Justice in its 110th Report has made the recommendation for the enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance from Rs.1000 to Rs.3000 per month. However, this is yet to be implemented.

INDIAN RAILWAYS TECHNICAL SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION

No:IRTSA/ CHQ/ FMA/2022-3

Date:25.04.2022

Secretary Finance (Expenditure),
North Block,
New Delhi – 110001

Respected Sir,

Sub: Enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for pensioners & family pensioners.

Ref: Recommendations of 110th report on “Pensioner’s Grievances-Impact of Pension Adalats and Centralized Pensioners Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS)”

1. We seek your kind intervention to consider and revise FMA as per the recommendations of the 110th report on “Pensioner’s Grievances-Impact of Pension Adalats and Centralized Pensioners Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS)”.

2. At present Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) Rs.1000 per month is granted to the Railway pensioners/Family Pensioners residing in areas beyond 2.5 Kms of Railway Hospital/Health Unit for meeting expenditure on their day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization.

3. The present rate of Rs.1000 per month is inadequate considering the increased cost of medicine and medical supplies.

4. In para 3.21 of 110th report on “Pensioner’s Grievances-Impact of Pension Adalats and Centralized Pensioners Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS)” submitted to Parliament on 10th December 2021, it was recommended that, “The Committee takes note of the fact that Fixed Medical Allowance is granted to pensioners who reside outside the CGHS areas for meeting expenditure on day-to-day medical expenses (OPD) that do not require hospitalization. The Committee also takes note of the request of Pensioners’ Associations for enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 per month as most pensioners are suffering from different diseases at old age and are unable to manage with a meagre pension as CGHS hospital is not available in every town. The Committee recommends DoPPW to take up this issue of enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance with the Finance Ministry as Rs 1000 is a very meagre amount for an old age pensioner and appraise the views of the Finance Ministry to the Committee in its Action Taken Replies”.

5. It is, therefore, requested that Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) may please be enhanced to Rs.3000 per month.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully,

(Harchandan Singh),
General Secretary, IRTSA