Government to expand contributory health scheme for ex-servicemen

The union cabinet today approved spending of Rs141 crore for setting up 199 new polyclinics, including 17 mobile medical facilities and 15 new regional centres, to extend the coverage of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

With this, the ECHS facility will be extended to those areas, where ex-servicemen population is below 2,500 by setting up polyclinics, which are within reasonable distance from ex-servicemen concentrations.

The cabinet also approved reorganistion and strengthening the central organisation of ECHS by authorising additional manpower of 2,263, on contractual basis, to man the additional 199 polyclinics. Besides, 315 serving personnel, including 60 officers and 255 PBORs, will be deployed for duty at the proposed regional centres. Seven officers and 15 PBORs will also be deployed at the Central Organisation ECHS.

The total financial implications of about Rs141 crore will include capital expenditure of Rs118.52 crore towards cost of land, construction and medical equipment. An amount of Rs22.25 crore will be spend on purchase of furniture and IT hardware. It also envisages recurring expenditure of Rs43 crore per annum.

ECHS was introduced in April 2003 to provide comprehensive medical coverage to ex-servicemen pensioners, war widows and dependents by establishing 227 polyclinics.

However, with 106 polyclinics at military stations and 121 polyclinics at areas with ex-servicemen population of 2,500 and above, the ex-servicemen face hardships in reaching polyclinics because of the distance.