7th Pay Commission: These central government health employees will get allowance with arrears

7th Pay Commission: Even as central government employees are waiting for the announcement related to their Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, awaited since July 2019, Union Ministry of health and Family welfare has approved Patient Health Care Allowance for Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ (Non-ministerial employees) Allied Healthcare Professionals under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The office memorandum issued on September 18, 2019 has informed about the "Implementation of the Recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission for granting of Hospital Patient Care Allowance (HPCA)/Patient Care Allowance (PCA) to Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ (Non-ministerial employees) Allied Healthcare Professionals working in various Central Government Healthcare Facilities."

This has been implemented in "continuation of this Ministry’s OM of even number dated 17.05.2018 and consequent upon the decision taken by the Government on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC)." The notification has clearly stated that as to who will get the benefit who would be excluded from this 7th CPC allowance benefit. It said, "The approval of Competent Authority is conveyed for payment of HPCA/PCA to all Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ (Non-ministerial employees) Allied Healthcare Professionals excluding Nurses working in various Central Government Healthcare Facilities as per cell R1H3 of the Risk and Hardship Matrix."

The notification further stated about the "conditions of their exposure as per this Ministry’s letter (No. Z.28015/24/2001-H dated 04.02.2004) are satisfied." The conditions are given below as:  

1. HPCA/PCA may be admissible in case the individual proceeds on leave/training for less than one calendar month.
2. HPCA/PCA may not be admissible in case of the individual proceeds on leave/training for equivalent and more than one calendar month.
3. HPCA/PCA should not be admissible in case of unauthorized leave.

The order will be effective from 1st July, 2017. The allowance is being given after getting the concurrence of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

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Notably, the employees of this department will get increased pay from Rs 4100 to Rs 5300 per month, and the benefit will be considered from July 1, 2017. It means the employees will get arrears of about 26 months.