New Delhi: The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has expanded significantly over the past five years, with 468 hospitals empanelled nationwide in 2025 alone—far exceeding the 42 hospitals that exited the scheme during the same period. Official data presented in Parliament shows that despite an uptick in exits this year, the overall CGHS network has grown substantially, widening treatment options for lakhs of government employees and pensioners.
Year-wise data reflects steady growth with some churn. In 2021, CGHS empanelled 266 hospitals while 22 exited. The following year saw 275 additions and 20 exits. Expansion picked up pace in 2023, with 398 hospitals empanelled and 23 exits. In 2024, 363 hospitals joined the network and 13 exited, indicating relative stability. Although 2025 recorded both the highest empanelment and the highest number of exits so far, it still delivered the largest net gain in the last five years.
A large share of the expansion has come from high-demand states. Delhi—home to one of the largest CGHS beneficiary populations—added 189 hospitals in 2025, underscoring rising CGHS usage and the capital’s dense private healthcare ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh empanelled 62 hospitals, West Bengal 42, Haryana 38, Rajasthan 31 and Maharashtra 30, significantly improving access, especially in urban centres with heavy CGHS footfall.
Exits, however, have been concentrated in a few major states. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 15 exits in 2025, roughly a third of the national total, followed by Karnataka (6), Maharashtra (5) and Delhi (3). Over the past five years, cumulative exits stand at 20 in UP, 19 in Karnataka, 18 in Maharashtra and 11 in Delhi. Beneficiaries note that even limited exits can disrupt care, forcing patients to switch hospitals mid-treatment, repeat diagnostic tests or travel longer distances—challenges that weigh heavily on pensioners and those with chronic illnesses.
Hospital groups caution that higher empanelment does not automatically ensure stability. “The data shows expansion, but retention depends on timely payments and effective dispute resolution,” said Dr C M Bhagat, a member of the Association of Healthcare Providers–India. While the recent revision of CGHS package rates on October 3, effective from October 13, 2025, is seen as a positive step, hospitals continue to cite delayed reimbursements and deductions as key reasons for exiting the scheme.
The health ministry has stated that CGHS wellness centres are opened based on demand and that cashless treatment is already available for pensioners and other priority groups at empanelled hospitals. As CGHS usage rises in major cities, experts say the key challenge will be ensuring that rapid expansion is matched by hospital retention and continuity of care—so beneficiaries gain not just a larger network, but a more dependable one.
