Leaders of Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD-APSRTC) Employees Union have urged the government to restore the medical benefits provided to retired RTC employees before the 2020 merger.
In a representation submitted to the APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Tuesday (December 02), Employees Union State president P. Damodara Rao and general secretary G.V. Narasaiah said before merging the APSRTC with the Transport department in 2020, retired RTC employees used to pay a certain amount under the Retired Employees Medical Scheme (REMS). Under this scheme, RTC hospitals and dispensaries provided treatment along with medicines to the beneficiaries. They said keeping the welfare of retired RTC staff in view, similar medical facilities should be continued even after the merger.
They recalled that before the merger, lifetime medical benefits worth ₹4 lakh were provided to both employees and their spouses in referral hospitals, in addition to free treatment and medicines in RTC hospitals. However, after the merger, the previous government discontinued this REMS scheme, causing hardship to retired employees, they pointed out.
They said following repeated appeals by them and with the efforts of Mr. Tirumala Rao, the present government issued orders in January this year, stating that the employees who retired after the merger and who pay the prescribed amount would be covered under EHS for medical benefits for both husband and wife, but only OP (outpatient) treatment would be available at RTC hospitals. The union leaders argued that OP services alone do not benefit retired employees and reiterated their plea that medicines should also be distributed along with treatment, as provided before the merger, and that the government should issue necessary orders to support retired RTC employees.
Published – December 02, 2025 04:05 pm IST
