New Delhi: Central government employees opting to have either of their parents or parents-in-law as dependents for availing medical facilities under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944, will not be allowed to change the option later, according to a fresh order issued by the Union Health Ministry.In an office memorandum issued on May 13, the ministry said eligible employees can exercise the option only once and the decision will be final even in cases such as death of parents or change in family circumstances.This order is applicable to beneficiaries covered under both CGHS and CS (MA) Rules, 1944, subject to the existing dependency and eligibility conditions. According to the ministry, if an employee chooses to include parents as dependents to avail medical facilities, the option cannot be later transferred to parents-in-law, and vice versa.The latest directions come as the Center continues the implementation of reforms initiated in the last two years to expand flexibilities under government health schemes. In July 2023, the government for the first time extended the option to cover parents or in-laws under CGHS to male central government employees, bringing them at par with female employees who already had this provision under the earlier rules.The facility was extended to beneficiaries covered under the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944, in March 2024 after the ministry said it had received repeated representations and queries demanding the same benefit for CS (MA) beneficiaries as well.Officials said the fresh instructions are aimed at streamlining implementation across ministries and departments and avoiding frequent changes in dependency declarations under government-funded health schemes.CGHS provides cashless and reimbursement-based healthcare facilities to lakhs of serving and retired Central Government employees and their dependent family members through wellness centers and empaneled hospitals across the country. Dependency criteria are linked to the income limit and other eligibility conditions prescribed under the scheme.