The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) was started under the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1954 with the objective of providing comprehensive medical care facilities to Central Government employees and their family members. Subsequently CGHS Services were extended to the following 17 cities: Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Luckn
ow, Chennai, Meerut, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Kanpur, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati. Besides Central Government employees, the scheme also provides services to:
* Members and Ex-members of Parliament
* Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court (sitting and retired)
* Freedom Fighters
* Central Government Pensioners, Employees of Semi-Autonomous bodies/Semi Government Organisations
* Accredited Journalists
* Ex-Governors and Ex-Vice-Presidents of India
