Fixed Medical Allowances to beneficiaries of NPS drawing additional relief on death/disability of goverenment servant

Streamlining of functioning of CGHS dispensaries

No. S-11030/51/2010-CGHS (P)
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhavan New Delhi
Dated : November 22 , 2010

OFFICE MEMORANDUM (Circular No. 1/2010)

Subject : Streamlining of functioning of CGHS dispensaries.

The question of streamlining the functioning of CGHS dispensaries has been engaging the attention of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for some time now. After considering the suggestions received from various quarters and after discussing the matter with officials of CGHS, it has been decided, as an initial measure, to streamline the functioning of CGHS dispensaries as below :-

(i) There is a need for officers and staff in CGHS dispensaries to further improve the delivery of service to CGHS beneficiaries. There should be a constant and conscious effort to redress most of the grievances and problems of these beneficiaries at the dispensary level so that there is no inconvenience caused to them forcing them to approach higher authorities for redressal of their grievances. The entire staff at the dispensary level have to ensure a polite, positive and responsible attitude to make the service delivery better. The CMO In-charge must make every effort to ensure this user friendly environment. Complaints of rude/impolite behavior need to be checked and stern action taken by CMOs (Incharge).

(ii) It is well established that CGHS beneficiaries need to be provided better service. Senior citizens/pensioners among the CGHS beneficiaries deserve special attention and response. It is re-iterated that senior citizens/pensioners need to be given out of queue treatment and service at each activity level. Despite repeated instructions in this regard, this system is generally not being enforced at the dispensary level. CMOs incharge must ensure compliance of these instructions.

(iii) CMOs In-charge of the dispensaries shall personally make rounds of the dispensary particularly during peak hours to ensure that there is proper environment and beneficiaries particularly pensioners/Senior Citizens are being treated promptly;

(iv) The Zonal Additional Directors/Joint Directors shall convene the meetings of Pensioners Associations once in two months alongwith CMOs (Incharge) without fail.

(v) A complaint/suggestion/feedback Box with details like number of complaints received and disposed etc. under a seal and lock will be kept at each dispensary and will be opened by the CMO In-charge in the presence of at least two members of the Advisory Committee when the Advisory Committee meeting is being held and necessary action taken by the Advisory Committee with regard to complaints/ suggestions/feedback thus received and, wherever required, the matter will be referred to higher authorities for necessary action.

(vi) All Zonal Additional Directors and Joint Directors shall conduct at least five surprise inspections of the dispensaries in Delhi and at least two in other cities in a month and report the outcome of the inspection indicating the areas such as punctuality, availability and behavior of officers/staff, special care for pensioners/Senior Citizens, deficit areas/complaints and also the good work done in each of the dispensaries inspected, by way of a confidential monthly d.o. letter to reach AS & DG (CGHS) without fail on or before 10th of the succeeding month;

(vii) It is seen that a large number of beneficiaries go to the dispensaries for taking repeat medicines. Authorization of repeat medicines will hereinafter be done by any of the CMOs, apart from the CMO In-charge, available in the dispensary;

(viii) The Zonal Additional Directors/Joint Directors will personally monitor and ensure that the empanelled hospitals etc. do adhere to the terms & conditions of MOAs. They will also supervise the services, if any, being provided by the private parties in their zones such as dialysis, dental services etc.

2. Director, CGHS and all Additional Directors/Joint Directors and CMOs In-charge are hereby directed to fully comply with the instructions contained in this Office Memorandum in both letter and spirit. Noncompliance shall be viewed seriously.

(L.C. Goyal)
AS & DG (CGHS)

LIST OF IMPORTANT MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANT UNDER CULTIVATION IN DIFFERENT STATES

Botanical name of species, with common name in bracket

1.Aconitum heterophyllum (Atis)

2.Acorus calamus (Vach)

3.Aegle marmelos (Bael)

4.Aloe vera (Ghrit kumari)

5.Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh)

6.Aquilaria agallocha (Agar)

7.Artemisia annua (Maleria buti)

8.Asparagus racemosus (Satawar)

9.Azadirachta indica (Neem)

10.Bacopa monnieri (Brahami)

11.Cassia angustifolia (Sena)

12.Catharanthus roseus (Pariwinkle, Sadabahar)

13.Centella asiatica (Mandookparni)

14.Chlorophytum borivillianum (Safed musli)

15.Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini)

16.Coleus barbatus syn. Coleus forskohlii(Patharchur)

17.Commiphora wightii (Guggal)

18.Crocus sativus (Kesar)

19.Cymbopogon flexuosus (Lemon grass)

20.Cymbopogan martinii (Palmarosa)

21.Cymbopogon winternianus (Citronela)

22.Eucalyptus citriodora (Citriodora)

23.Emblica officinalis syn. Phyllanthus emblica(Amla)

24.Gloriosa superba (Kalihari)

25.Glycyrrhiza glabra (Mulethi)

26.Gmelina arborea (Gambhari)

27.Gymnema sylvestre (Gudmar)

28.Hedychium spicatum (Kapur kachri)

29.Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Gudhal)

30.Inula racemosa (Pushkarmool)

31.Litsea glutinosa (Litsea)

32.Mucuna prurita (Kawanch)

33.Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile)

34.Mentha arvensis (Mint)

35.Mentha spicata (Spearmint)

36.Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi)

37.Ocimum sanctam (Tulsi)

38.Oroxylum indicum (Shyonaka, sona)

39.Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium)

40.Phyllanthus amarus (Bhumi amlaki)

41.Picrorrhiza kurrooa (Kutki)

42.Piper betel (Betelvine)

43.Piper longum (Pippali)

44.Plantago ovata (Isabgol)

45.Plumbago zeylenica (Chitrak)

46.Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakari)

47.Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli)

48.Pterocarpus marsupium (Beejasar)

49.Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha)

50.Rosa damascena (Dasmask rose)

51.Santalum album (Chandan)

52.Saraca asoca (Ashok)

53.Saussurea costus (Kuth)

54.Smilex china (Lokhandi)

55.Solanum nigrum (Makoy)

56.Stevia rebaudiana (Stevia)

57.Swertia chirayita (Chirata)

58.Taxus baccata (Taxus)

59.Terminalia arjuna (Arjun)

60.Terminalia ballerica (Baheda)

61.Terminalia chebula (Haritaki)

62.Tinospora cordifolia (Giloe)

63.Valeriana jatamansi (Tagar)

64.Vetiveria zizanioides (Vetiver)

65.Vitex nigundo (Nirgundi)

66.Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Treatment in Intitute of liver & Billiary Science, Delhi without permission

Guideline for discritionary allotment on medical ground in general pool of quaters

Non-admisibilty of preprations such as primary food, tonics,cosmatics and vaccines

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal has held that only a medical expert, not a departmental authority, is "competent" to certify if treatment administered on a government employee is an emergency case deserving medical reimbursement.

"Medical reimbursement cannot be claimed as a right in the context of financial burden on the government but when a laid down policy is there... then the authority, which is competent to certify an emergency, cannot be a departmental authority," the tribunal comprising members Shanker Raju and Veena Chhotray said.

"It is only an expert in the field, which is competent and has jurisdiction to certify whether the treatment incurred was in a state of emergency or not," the CAT said.

Review of CGHS

The performance of the CGHS is regularly reviewed by the Government. The Committee of Secretaries has also been regularly reviewing the functioning of the CGHS since December, 2008, and has been giving directions to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for making it beneficiary friendly. Some of the recent initiatives are listed below:

(1) Extension of CGHS: CGHS today covers 24 cities, apart from Delhi. Dehradun, Ranchi, Bhubaneshwar and Jammu are the cities where CGHS was extended during the last four years. (2) Computerization: To keep pace with the modern times, a massive computerisation work has been taken up under CGHS in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre. Computerization of the CGHS will result in lesser waiting period for beneficiaries at the dispensaries; on-line placement of indents on local chemists; availability of patient profiles; availability of medicines / drugs usage pattern, which will enable the CGHS to prepare a realistic list of formulary drugs; reduction in use of paper; removal of jurisdictional restriction (as regards the dispensary) for the beneficiaries, etc.

(3) Introduction of Plastic Cards: As part of the computerisation process, it has been decided to issue plastic cards individually to each beneficiary of the CGHS. This will enable beneficiaries to avail CGHS facility in any city should they happen to be in that city either on official work or on leave. Inter-city treatment will be possible after all cities are computerised and networked.

(4) Accreditation of labs with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) :

With a view to providing better quality treatment to CGHS beneficiaries, it was decided that only those private hospitals and diagnostic centres would be empanelled under the CGHS, as have been cleared by the Quality Council of India after it carried out inspection of the facilities available at these hospitals and diagnostic centres. It has also been decided that all the laboratories on the panel of CGHS have to get certificate issued by the NABL under the Quality Council of India.

(5) Medical Audit of Hospital Bills is an important exercise to assess the quality of services offered and expenditure incurred. In order to be sure that the bills raised by private empanelled hospitals are genuine and that the beneficiaries were required to undergo only that treatment as was required and that the hospital has not forced the beneficiary to undergo unnecessary tests / treatment at the hospital. The job of medical audit of Hospital bills has been outsourced to TPAs.

(6) Holding of Claims Adalats: Complaints were received in the CGHS and in the Ministry that old cases of reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by pensioners were pending for settlement for long time. It was decided that claims adalats be held in each Zonal office of CGHS, Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Additional Directors of the respective zones. Claims adalats were held annually, in each zone (East, Central, South and North Zones) in Delhi, during 2007 and 2008 and over 95% of the claims were settled in those adalats.

(7) Local Advisory Committees: Local Advisory Committee meetings are held in each CGHS dispensary on second Saturday of the month, which is attended by Area Welfare Officer appointed by the Chief Welfare Officer, Department of Personnel & Training, representatives from pensioners’ association, local chemist to resolve problems at dispensary level.

(8) Decentralisation and delegation of powers: Ministries / Departments have been delegated powers to handle all cases of reimbursement claims if no relaxation of rules was involved. Earlier they had powers to handle requests upto Rupees two lakhs and beyond that amount, the cases were referred to CGHS.

(9) Insulin: Orders have been issued to permit issue of Analogue (Insulin Vial/Cartridge) to CGHS beneficiaries and the extra cost would be borne by the CGHS. The beneficiaries would have to purchase the pen for utilization the analogue insulin.

(10) Outsourcing of cleaning process of dispensaries: As there were shortage of Class IV Staff in a large number of dispensaries in Delhi, it was decided to relocate Class IV staff from a few deficient dispensaries to other deficient dispensaries. To overcome the vacuum so created in some dispensaries, it was decided to outsource cleaning work for mechanised cleaning. The agency has been handling this work for the last five months, and the work done by them has been appreciated by all.

(11) Rate contract for purchase of drugs: It has been decided to run a pilot project under which dispensaries in Delhi will be permitted to place indents directly on the manufacturers on rate contract basis. If the proposal proves to be a success, then it may be extended to cover the entire CGHS. The benefit of this arrangement is that dispensaries / CGHS do not have to carry huge inventory of medicines and indents can be placed on a monthly basis depending on the need.

The Sixth Central Pay Commission recommended the introduction of health insurance scheme for Central Government employees and pensioners. It had recommended that for existing employees and pensioners, the scheme should be available on the voluntary basis, subject to their paying prescribed contribution. It has also recommended that the health insurance scheme should be compulsory for new Government employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the scheme. Similarly, it had recommended that new retirees, after the introduction of the insurance would be covered under the scheme.

An expression of interest has been floated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare inviting suggestions from insurance companies providing health insurance and health consultants on the structure, feasibility and viability of such a scheme.

This information was given by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Health Insurance for Government Employees

The Sixth Central Pay Commission recommended the introduction of health insurance scheme for Central Government Employees and pensioners. It had recommended that for existing employees and pensioners, the scheme should be available on a voluntary basis subject to their paying prescribed contribution. It had also recommended that the health scheme should be compulsory for new Government employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the Scheme. Similarly, it had recommended that new retirees after the introduction of the insurance scheme would be covered under the scheme.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has floated an Expression of Interest from Insurance companies providing health insurance and health insurance Consultants for implementation of the proposed Central Government Employees and Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS) for Central Government employees and pensioners on an all India basis.

This information was given by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.


see my earlier post for detail here

Reimbursment of the cost of cochlear implants under CGHS/CS(MA ) Rule

CAT chides Govt for denying medical reimbursement

NEW DELHI: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has chided the Centre for denying medical reimbursement to a government doctor's terminally-ill daughter who underwent treatment abroad and directed it to pay the hospital bill of Rs 17.31 lakh. "The decision (denying medical reimbursement) of the government is against all canons of humanity, sympathy, compassion and is also in flagrant violation of the Constitution of India," the tribunal said. Ravi Pathak, 45, a doctor at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital here whose daughter was administered stem cell transplantation at Singapore and died later, was denied medical reimbursement after the standing committee concerned concluded that the success rate of such treatment was less. "The decision in review by the standing committee revoking their earlier decision without any logic, rationale and reasoning is not only arbitrary and inhuman but also runs counter to the guaranteed fundamental right under the Constitution of India to a citizen of this country," the recent order by Shanker Raju, Member, CAT, said. The tribunal while expressing its anguish over the decision to deny the reimbursement cited instances in which "important persons" were allowed treatment abroad despite knowing that there was little chance of their survival.

New Health Insurence Initiative from Ministry of Health

Ministry of Health has invited expression of Interest on the proposed Health insurence to be offered to all central government retired and in service employees

BACKGROUND

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a scheme for providing health care to serving Central Government employees and their dependant family members. Over the years, the scheme has been extended to cover central government pensioners, their dependant family members and certain other categories like members of parliament and ex-members of parliament, freedom fighters etc. Employees of some select autonomous bodies as also PIB accredited journalists have also been extended CGHS facilities on cost-to-cost basis in Delhi.

Central Government Health Scheme is available in 25 cities [Delhi (including Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad), Ahemdabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Meerut, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Ranchi, Shillong and Thiruvanthapuram]. Central Government Employees living outside the CGHS areas are entitled to reimbursement for medical attendance and treatment under the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules [CS(MA) Rules]. Pensioners of the Central Government are not covered under these rules. At present, Central Government Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas are paid a sum of Rs. 100 p.m. for meeting their medical expenditure. Consequently, there has been a long standing demand from Central Govt. pensioners residing in non CGHS areas for medical services at par with those available to Central Govt. pensioners in CGHS areas. The VI^th Pay Commission has recommended the introduction of a health insurance scheme in lieu of the CGHS.

Government of India, therefore, proposes to provide inpatient health care services to their all personnel of the Central Government including All India Service officers, serving and retired, and others who are covered under the existing CGHS (Central Government Health Services) and under CS (MA) Rules [Central services (Medical attendance) Rules] through a Health Insurance Scheme catering to their health care requirements. The proposed scheme shall be on voluntary basis for current set of employees & pensioners but compulsory for future employees & pensioners. The existing CGHS beneficiaries will have an option to avail CGHS facilities for OPD requirements and the insurance scheme for inpatient treatment.

With the introduction of health insurance scheme, the Central Government Employee (existing/ retired) will have the choice to select the best available health facilities for meeting their health care and can get best available treatment in areas in the close proximity.

NAME OF THE SCHEME

The name of the proposed scheme is Central Government Employees & Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS).

BENEFICIARIES

All personnel of the Central Government including All India Service officers, serving, newly recruited, retired and retiring and others who are covered under the existing CGHS(Central Government Health Services) and under CS (MA) [Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules] Rules shall be offered Health Insurance Scheme on voluntary or on compulsorily basis . This could be:

1. CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government Employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the health Insurance Scheme.
2. CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government retirees who would be retiring from the service after the introduction of the Insurance Scheme.
3. CGEPHIS would be available on voluntary basis for the existing Central Government Employees and pensioners serving in CGHS area/ covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and Central Government existing Pensioners shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.
4. CGEPHIS would also be available on voluntary basis for the existing serving employees and pensioners in non-CGHS areas not covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and existing Pensioners (who have opted for CGHS facility) shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.

STRUCTURE OF CGEPHIS

Sums Insured / Policy Limits

The scheme shall provide coverage for meeting all expenses relating to hospitalization of beneficiary members up to Rs. 500,000/- per family per year subject to stated limits on cashless basis through smart cards. The benefit shall be available to each and every member of the family on floater basis i.e. the total reimbursement of Rs. 5 .00 lac can be availed by one individual or all members of the family. The sub-limits mentioned herein form part of the overall annual, family limit.

Head	Sub-limit (Rs. / per admission)
Domiciliary hospitalization	50,000
Maternity benefit	50,000

Scheme Floater Sum Insured

An additional sum of Rs. 15 crore shall be provided as Buffer / corporate floater to take care of hospitalization expenses of a family (per illness or annual) exceed the original sum insured of Rs 5.00 lac. In all such cases an additional amount up to Rs. 5.00 lac per family shall be provided from the Scheme Floater, on the recommendation of the committee set up by the Central government/ Nodal agency.

Family Size / Age Limit

1. Serving Employees: Self, spouse, two dependent children and dependent parents (New born shall be considered insured from day one).
2. Retired Employees: Self, spouse and one dependent child.
3. Additional dependent family member can be covered under the scheme by paying the fixed percentage of premium per additional dependent family member. The premium shall be borne by the beneficiary.
4. All beneficiaries shall be insured till survival.
5. The definition of dependent shall be as per guidelines issued by Central Government.

Insurance Coverage

In addition to the coverage afforded under a standard medical insurance policy, the following shall also be covered under CGEPHIS:

1. Pre-existing diseases
2. Maternity benefit
3. Day-one Coverage for all diseases
4. New-born babies
5. Pre and Post hospitalization cover of 30 days and 60 days respectively
6. Domiciliary Hospitalization

CGHS launched new website

CGHS today launches its revamped & improved version of website. Take a look here

Discontiuation of continous empanelment scheme of CGHS

stoppage of emergency service at CGHS wellness centers

Revision in CGHS subscription/ entitlement w.e.f 1/6/2009

Clarification regarding Plastic card for individual CGHS beneficiaries

Issue of analogue insulin to CGHS beneficiaries, GOI OM Dated 13/05/2009

Health Facilities in Emergencies -

A.N. Khan(Senior Scientist, Former Assistant Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur.)

Significant advances in health, social and economical development have been made in recent decades. And yet, this progress has been repeatedly tested by man-made and natural disasters. One cannot pursue long-term strategies for health for all without paying attention to this global problem.

Disaster is “any occurrence that causes damage, economic disruption, loss of human life and deterioration in health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area”. The response to a disaster must involve all sectors of government and the whole community. Functional health facilities and trained staff are crucial in times of emergencies and disasters.

The World has long experienced many disasters and in some of these, health facilities were a major casualty. For example during December 26, 2004, tsunami —30 of the 240 health clinics were destroyed in Aceh province, Indonesia and seriously damaged 77 others. In Sri Lanka, 92 health facilities were destroyed including 35 hospitals. In 2001 in Gujarat, a magnitude of 7.7 earthquake destroyed 3812 health facilities. More than 11,000 medical institutions were damaged in China’s Wenchuan earthquake in May 2008, forcing tens of thousands of people to seek treatment elsewhere. Current conflicts in Ethiopia and Gaza are hampering primary health services, such as immunization. These are some examples of disaster situations where health services are affected and at times unavailable when needed the most.

World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centers and staff are critical life-lines for vulnerable people in disasters – treating injuries, preventing illness and caring for people’s health problems, such as safe child birth services, immunization and chronic disease care, which must continue in emergencies. Often, already fragile health systems are unable to keep functioning through a disaster, with immediate and future public health consequences.

The focus of the biennial World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009, is also on the same issue : “Hospitals Safe from Disasters – Reduce Risk, Protect Health Facilities, Save Lives”. In this global effort World Health Organisation is working with UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and World Bank so that all facilities stand upto emergencies and continue to function.

On International Day for Disaster Reduction, 8 October 2008 in New York, experts from China, India and Caribbean shared experiences with International agencies, Diplomatic Missions and health sector academics on how to make hospitals and schools safe from disasters. India outlined a ten-point approach to ‘Building Back Better’ from Gujarat’s massive 2001 earthquake, ranging from seismic risk assessment to training masons and local communities.

It was the Disaster Mitigation Advisory Group (DIMAG) that originally conceived the idea of Hospital Safety Index, which is gaining acceptance as a global tool for assessing the likelihood of a hospital remaining functional in disaster situations. A strategy should be developed to sustain current efforts to apply the Hospital Safety Index, including training the evaluators who use the safe hospital check list to assess health facilities. DIMAG will also promote creation and use of learning tools and methodologies.

DIMAG proposes that future safe hospital measures take into account the risks associated with climate change such as flooding, stronger hurricane and storm surge and increase awareness regarding these hazards.

A fire safety guide for hospitals will be developed and published and will include procedure for evacuation exercise, as part of the Hospital preparedness programme.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and DIMAG will encourage and lend support to the June 2009 Conference on ‘Safe Hospitals’.

Several countries are working to keep hospitals safe, improving preparedness to protect lives. In Mexico, trained evaluators have diagnosed the safety of 200 health facilities, identifying which health facility needs improvements. In Japan, Pakistan and Peru health facilities are now build to withstand earthquakes. Multifunctional facilities for health education and agriculture are built in Bangladesh to aid relief after cyclones and floods – which saved thousands of lives after Cyclone Sidr in 2007. WHO is also urging health facilities to respond to internal emergencies, such as fires, and ensure the continuity of care.

The goal of raising awareness in this issue is to affect changes that will ensure that health facilities are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters. This means ensuring the structural resilience of health structures with existing technologies; keeping the equipment and supplies of these health facilities intact should an emergency happen; improving preparedness and risk reduction capacity of health workers; and involving communities in this effort.

Safe health facilities are those that are accessible and function at maximum capacity immediately after a disaster event. This is not just the work of the health sector and health professionals alone but experts from other fields such as urban planners, architects, engineers to bring not just awareness, but action.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent most disasters. Nevertheless, we can forestall or alleviate many of their worst effects by anticipating them and by being prepared. Our concern is with reducing the adverse impact of disasters on human health, through preparedness and by bringing the right technology to bear in a timely, coordinated and effective manner, for each phase of operation, namely, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. (PIB Features)

Age limit for dependent children of government servants for avaling medical facilities- GoI OM Dt 25th Feb,2009