Varanasi, October 14, 2026: In a significant development for Varanasi's healthcare sector, Dr. Manoj Kumar Shah, a healthcare entrepreneur and advisor, has been nominated as a member of the Joint Working Group constituted for reforms in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and consultations on healthcare policy issues.
According to a communication dated October 9, 2026, Dr. Shah has been nominated through NATHEALTH – Healthcare Federation of India.
The Joint Working Group will examine key challenges within the CGHS framework, including the empanelment of healthcare organisations, patient safety, quality assurance, medical claims, payment settlements and grievance redressal.
CGHS Serves Over 43 Lakh Beneficiaries
The Central Government Health Scheme provides healthcare services to serving and retired Central Government employees and their eligible dependants.
According to government data presented in the Rajya Sabha on March 17, 2026, CGHS had 43,67,202 registered beneficiaries and 2,824 empanelled healthcare organisations.
With such an extensive healthcare network, issues including timely settlement of medical claims, transparent billing, quality treatment and efficient grievance resolution remain important areas for policy reform.
The Joint Working Group is expected to provide a platform for discussions between healthcare stakeholders and policymakers to identify systemic challenges and explore practical improvements.
Over Two Decades of Experience in Healthcare
Dr. Manoj Kumar Shah brings more than two decades of experience in radiology, pathology diagnostic services and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) healthcare models.
His professional experience in diagnostic healthcare services and healthcare delivery systems is expected to contribute to discussions on improving the accessibility, efficiency and quality of medical services under CGHS.
Reacting to his nomination, Dr. Shah emphasised the importance of integrating modern technology into healthcare administration.
He highlighted the potential of digital health models, medical technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve healthcare quality, streamline medical claim settlements and strengthen mechanisms for addressing beneficiary grievances.
Representation for Varanasi and Purvanchal
Apart from his involvement in the healthcare sector, Dr. Shah also serves as the Secretary of Gopi Radha Balika Inter College, Ravindrapuri, Varanasi.
His nomination brings representation from Varanasi and the wider Purvanchal region into national-level discussions on healthcare reforms.
As the Joint Working Group examines challenges within the CGHS system, its consultations could help inform measures aimed at improving healthcare delivery, administrative transparency and the experience of millions of beneficiaries across India.
