Central Health Service

Central Health Service (CHS) is an Organised Central (Group-A) Civil Service of the Government of India. The Cadre controlling authority of Central Health Service is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and it is the only Organised Group-A service under MoHFW. CHS is one of the three Organised Health Services of the Government of India, other two being the Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS) and Indian Ordnance Factory Health Service (IOFHS). CHS Officers are involved in providing clinical care, medical education, health administration and implementation of Health Programs through various Central Government Institutions.

CHS has 4 sub-cadres

1. General Duty Medical Officers (GDMO)
2. Teaching Specialists (T)
3. Non-Teaching Specialists (NT)
4. Public Health Specialists (PH)

The CHS posts are Gazetted and the roles & responsibilities of the CHS Officers varies with the sub-cadre and the organisation/units to which the appointments are made.

History

In 1957, the Government of India initiated steps to constitute a Central Health Service, consisting of all posts in the Central Health Cadre such as Medical, Public Health and Medical Research posts in the General Central Services Class I and Class II, excluding the posts under Ministries of Railways and Defence. The Rules for the Constitution of the Central Health Service was notified in May 1963. Initially the service had two streams, (i) General Duty Officer (GDO) and (ii) Specialists. MBBS Graduates were recruited at GDO Grade II which was a Class II post and were eligible for promotion after 5 years to GDO Grade I, which was a Class I post. Doctors with Post-Graduate Qualification were also recruited to GDO stream, but at GDO Grade I level.

Though an All India Service called Indian Medical and Health Service (IMHS) was planned to be constituted with CHS officers in 1969, it was not implemented. In 1973, CHS was declared as a Class I service. Till 1974, the Medical and Public Health posts under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was included in CHS. On 18 February 1977, the UPSC conducted the first Combined Examination for recruitment to Medical posts under Central Government, including CHS. Prior to 1977, the selection to these posts was on the basis of interview. In 1982, CHS was restructured into 4 sub-cadres, as it exists today.

On 21 August 1989, a Memorandum of Settlement (MOS) was signed between the Government and the Joint Action Council of Service Doctors Organisations (JACSDO) to improve the service conditions and the career progression. Following this a High Power Committee (Tikku Committee) was constituted to look into these issues.

Recruitment

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE) every year to recruit officers to various health service cadres including to Medical Officer Grade (Level-10 / Junior Time Scale) of GDMO sub-cadre of CHS. There is a separate recruitment process by UPSC for the Specialist posts of the remaining sub-cadres. The recruitment to Specialist Sub-cadre are done at Level-11 (Senior Time Scale).

Training

General Duty Medical Officers of the CHS undergo their Foundation Training Program (FTP) with special focus on Health administration at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi.

Participating Units of CHS

CHS officers are posted at various participating units/organisations all over India

Cadre Structure

Cadre structure as per the CHS Rules 2014 and the CHS Amendment Rules 2019

Career Progression

Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) Scheme

Central Health Service Officers are covered under the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) Scheme which provides time-bound promotion up to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) without linkage to vacancies.

Promotion to Higher Administrative Grade (HAG)

Vacancy based promotion from a combined eligibility list of Senior Administrative Grade (Level 14) officers from all the four sub-cadres of CHS. Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) Officers with 3 years regular service in the Grade are eligible to be considered for HAG Posts. Additional DGHS with 2 years regular service in HAG is eligible to be considered for special DGHS. The Senior-most Special DGHS shall function as the Director General of Health Services.

Non-Functional Upgradation

Whenever an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer is posted at the Centre at a particular Grade, the Batch of Officers of the Organised Group A Services (including CHS) who are senior by two years or more, and not yet promoted to that Grade are granted non-functional financial upgradation to that Grade.

Special Allowances

Non Practicing Allowance (NPA)

Paid at the rate of 20% of Basic Pay, subject to the condition that the sum of Basic Pay and NPA does not exceed ₹2,37,500 (the average of Apex Level and the Level of Cabinet Secretary). NPA is treated as Pay for the purpose of calculation of Dearness Allowance and other allowances, except where the orders explicitly state otherwise, including for calculation of retirement benefits.

Post Graduate Allowance

Paid to CHS Officers of GDMO sub-cadre, upto the level of CMO(NFSG), who possess Post-Graduate Degree and Post-Graduate Diploma, at the rate of ₹2250 and ₹1350 respectively. The rates increases by 25% each time the Dearness Allowance (DA) rises by 50%.

Retirement

As per Rule 56 clause (bb) of the Fundamental Rules 1922, the age of superannuation of the Central Health Service (CHS) officers is 62 years, unless they exercise the option of posting to non-administrative posts, in case they desire to continue in their service up to the age of 65 years.

The officers who joined the service before 1 January 2004 are covered under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, which provides an assured pension on retirement. The Officers who joined on or after 1 January 2004 are covered under National Pension System, which is a contributory pension scheme. The Government has introduced the Unified Pension Scheme with effect from 1 April 2025 which ensures a defined payout on retirement.

Notable Officers

• Dr. Jagadish Prasad: Former Director General of Health Services and Padma Shri Awardee (1991).
• Dr. Archana Majumdar: Member of National commission for Women (Since 21 October 2024).

See also

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)
• Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE)
• Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS)
• Indian Medical Service (IMS)
• Army Medical Corps (India)
• Central Civil Services

External links