No Proposal for Revision of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)”

409.     SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to revise the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme(ECHS);

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details regarding the last revision of terms and conditions of entitlement of ECHS subscribers;

(c) whether the Government proposes to revise the scheme for giving proper accommodation to all categories of ECHS, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to provide room facility for all ex-servicemen irrespective of their rank for accommodation in hospitals during inpatient treatment, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to provide more facilities to the members under ECHS, if so, the details thereof?

(a): No, Sir. There is no proposal for revision of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

(b):  Not applicable.

(c): No, Sir. There is no proposal to revise the scheme for giving proper accommodation to all categories of ECHS.

(d): No, Sir. There is no proposal to provide room facility for all ex-servicemen irrespective of their ranks for accommodation in hospitals during in-patient treatment.

(e): Yes, Sir. In order to provide more healthcare facilities to the members under ECHS, the number of empanelled Health Care Organizations (Private and Government) are increased through a continuous process of empanelment.

At present it has 30 Regional Centres (RC) and 433 Polyclinics (PC) pan India including 06 in Nepal and more than 3000 empanelled medical facilities with a total beneficiary base of approximately 58 lakhs.

The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was  launched  in  April, 2003 to provide quality medical care to the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents by utilizing the existing medical infrastructure of Armed Forces and private empanelled/government hospitals across the country.

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