Introduction

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued a comprehensive update for Central Government Employees and Pensioners regarding the empanelment of private AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, and Siddha) Day Care Therapy Centres and In-Patient Department (IPD) Hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The new directives aim to streamline the application process through the Hospital Engagement Module (HEM) portal and ensure uniform quality of AYUSH therapies across India.

Key Highlights & Important Deadlines

• Mandatory HEM Onboarding: All currently empaneled Day Care Centres and IPD Hospitals must transition to the HEM portal and execute a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on or before September 30, 2026.
• De-empanelment Warning: Failure to comply with the September 2026 deadline will result in immediate de-empanelment effective October 1, 2026.
• Extension of Validity: The validity of existing empaneled AYUSH facilities has been officially extended until September 30, 2026 to allow ample time for the onboarding process.
• Room Rent Revisions (IPD): Revised daily room rents are fixed at ₹1,000 (General Ward), ₹2,000 (Semi-Private Ward), and ₹3,000 (Private Ward).

Detailed Summary of the Guidelines

The latest office memorandum invites fresh applications from both new and existing Health Care Organizations (HCOs). This covers IPD hospitals in all CGHS-covered cities and municipal limits of district headquarters, as well as Day Care therapy centers exclusively in CGHS-covered cities.

To be considered for empanelment, HCOs must unconditionally accept the notified CGHS package rates and meet strict infrastructure and quality standards. For instance, a Day Care Centre must have a minimum floor area of 650 sq. ft., dedicating at least 200 sq. ft. for two separate therapy rooms (male and female). Existing centers have until March 31, 2026, to comply with these specific spatial modifications.

Important Points for CGHS Beneficiaries & Providers

• Application Portal: All applications must be submitted strictly through the official HEM portal (https://hem.nha.gov.in). Manual or off-portal applications will be rejected.
• Application Fees: Day Care HCOs must pay a non-refundable fee of ₹2,000 via Bharatkosh. IPD HCOs are exempt from application fees.
• NABH Accreditation Rules:
  • Type X Cities (incl. Delhi/NCR): Valid and full NABH accreditation is mandatory.
  • Type Y Cities: Primary (entry-level) NABH accreditation valid for one year is acceptable.
  • Type Z Cities: Exempt for the first year, but entry-level or full accreditation is required from the second year onwards.
• Referral Requirement: Beneficiaries need a prior referral from a CGHS/Government AYUSH doctor to undergo specialized day-care therapies. Treatments are initially approved for up to two weeks.

Conclusion

These revised guidelines ensure that Central Government Employees and Pensioners receive standardized, safe, and high-quality traditional medical care. By enforcing NABH accreditation, digital onboarding via the NHA/HEM platform, and strict infrastructure norms, the Ministry is actively upgrading the operational transparency and efficacy of AYUSH treatments under the CGHS umbrella.