Health Ministry Set To Roll Out New Digital Platform, CGHS Beneficiaries To Receive Faster Services

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is set to roll out a new digital portal for central government health scheme (CGHS) services on April 28, 2025. The new portal aims to provide CGHS beneficiaries with more transparent and faster access to healthcare services. According to the government statement, the new portal will be user-friendly, where eligible beneficiaries can easily access the services.

The new portal has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Until now, there are two digital platforms (www.cghs.gov.in and www.cghs.nic.in). These will be deactivated from April 28, and the new platform (www.cghs.mohfw.gov.in) will become the official portal.

Considering the fast-developing technology and cybersecurity threats, the ministry decided to replace its old and outdated health management information system (HMIS), which was launched in 2005. Since then, technology has developed tremendously, and the old HMIS software is incompatible with the current cyber security framework and IT standards. The upgraded HMIS through the new portal will help improve operational and service efficiency.

To effect the implementation of the new portal, the CGHS services will be temporarily closed on Saturday, April 26. According to the statement, ‘This temporary suspension is necessary to complete data migration, switch-over activities and final validation’.

What Will Change In The New CGHS HMIS?

• Once the new portal is implemented, CGHS beneficiaries can access all services online, such as application, registration, and grievance redressal.

• In the new system, every beneficiary will be linked to a unique PAN-based ID to simplify the verification process.

• The contribution payment will be verified directly through the Bharat Kosh portal with no requirement for any manual entry for deposits and refunds. The manual process of contribution through Bharatkosh will be discontinued from April 28, and all contributions will be done through the new CGHS platform.

• More manual processes will be shifted online, such as card transfer, change in category, and change in dependent status, among others. The new system will enable users to avail of all these services entirely online.

• The system will provide information to applicants about their eligibility and contribution amount before making payment.

• The new system is claimed to provide users with more transparency by keeping them informed at every stage of processing their CGHS service application through SMS and email alerts.

• Users will have to reset their passwords on the portal on first-time login to keep their data protected from cyber threats, a requirement suggested by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

CGHS's official mobile app has also been upgraded with the new features. Users can now access their digital CGHS card, track requests in real-time, schedule appointments, and connect with the helpdesk and Additional Director (AD) Offices.

According to the statement, the application made before April 27 without payment, will be considered void. Such applicants will need to apply again through the new portal. However, the existing cards will continue to function the same way, and all the data in the old system, including the medical history, will be transferred to the new HMIS system.