Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme: Aim, Objective

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

LOK SABHA

ANSWERED ON: 18.11.2016

(a) the details of aims and objectives of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS);

(b) whether ECHS has fulfilled its mandated aims and objectives;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether shortcomings / deficiencies in the implementation of ECHS have come to the notice of the Government; and

(e) if so, he details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government thereon?

(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)
was launched on 1st April 2003. Its growth has been phenomenal. It had
a beneficiary base of only about 3.5 lakh in 2003 and its beneficiary base has
expanded to approximately 50 lakh. Having started with 13 Regional Centres
and 227 Polyclinics, the Scheme expanded in October 2010 with 15 more
Regional Centres and 199 Polyclinics, taking the total to 28 Regional Centres
and 426 Polyclinics. Presently all Regional Centres and 421 Polyclinics are
operational across the country. Further, ECHS has a large number of
empanelled medical facilities.

(d) The shortcomings / deficiencies in the functioning of the empanelled
hospitals, supply of medicines, budgetary and manpower matters, have come
to the notice of the Government.

(e) Corrective steps taken / being taken to overcome the shortcomings /
deficiencies include outsourcing of pharmacy, authorization of local
chemists, enhancement of financial power of Officer in-charge of ECHS
polyclinic to obviate the shortage of medicines, processing of medical bills of
all 28 Regional Centres on-line as per rules, appropriate use of ECHS funds
by the service hospitals, adherence to the terms and conditions of
Memorandum of Agreement by the empanelled hospitals, recruitment of the
manpower in ECHS polyclinics, de-duplication of ECHS smart cards etc.

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Source: http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/10/AS56.pdf