CGHS OPD Facility: Government Issues Clarification On Consultation Charges

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a clarification recently regarding the Out-Patient (OPD) consultation charges in the central government health scheme (CGHS). It was receiving several queries regarding the OPD charges confusion whether the OPD consultation fee is Rs 700 or Rs 350. After the rate revision of CGHS services in October last year, the treatment and other charges are now linked to a couple of factors, such as the hospital type, its accreditation, city, ward entitlement, etc.

Per the notification, the government has clarified that the OPD consultation charges for super specialists (DM/MCh qualification) in all CGHS empanelled hospitals are Rs 700. These charges are applicable when a super specialist (DM/MCh) provides consultation in the concerned super speciality discipline. In other cases, the applicable charges are Rs 350.

In case of in-patient (IPD) consultation services, a maximum of two consultations are admissible per day per specialist, as per CGHS rules.

Note that the government notified the revised CGHS rates in October 2025, in a bid to address the long-time grievance of beneficiaries that the scheme is not cashless and reimbursement takes a lot of time. On the other hand, hospitals didn’t offer a cashless facility due to lower rates of their services, and delayed payment by the government. These revised rates became effective on October 13, 2025.

OPD Consultation Fee In CGHS

The government offers the CGHS facility to central government employees, central government pensioners, and their dependent family members. Beneficiaries can visit CGHS centres, which are present in 80 cities across the country to avail the healthcare services.  

So, while availing of the OPD consultation service at any CGHS centre, the beneficiary should check the doctor’s qualification. As per the rules, a higher OPD consultation fee is only for super specialists, not just specialists. So, a beneficiary needs to ensure that the doctor’s qualification is clearly mentioned on the bill.

As per the office memorandum dated October 3, 3025, the revised consultation fee is:

• Specialist’s fee in OPD – Rs 350

• Super specialist’s (DM/MCh) fee in OPD - Rs 700

• Psychiatry fee in OPD – Rs 700

• Specialist’s / Super Specialist’s fee in IPD – Rs 350

• Eye Consultations – Rs 350

These rates include the consumables used in a patient’s examination, such as paper gloves, unsterile gloves, examination gloves, etc. Each consultation is valid for seven days if it pertains to the same speciality.