AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 101 of 170 scheme to cater to the needs of ever increasing pensioners of the Armed Forces, and also to decrease the out patient load on Service Hospitals. 40. Creation of ECHS. As a consequence of above, and after detailed deliberations, a comprehensive paper on a health scheme for defence pensioners, was submitted to Government which finally took shape as the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), duly sanctioned by the Government vide letter No 22 (l)/01/US (WE)/D (Res) dated 30 Dec 2002, to come into effect from 01 Apr 2003. The GOI/Min of Def letter ibid only laid down a broad policy framework, and was to be implemented through detailed administrative and financial procedures, to be approved separately by MOD. Of the 11 administrative and financial procedures submitted to Government by the Armed Forces, for running the ECHS, only three stand approved as on date. PART 2 Aim 41. To provide comprehensive and quality medical care (covering all possible diseases) to ESM pensioners and their dependents, to widows and family pensioners through out- patient (OPD) facilities at 227 all-India Polyclinics, and in-patient treatment through Service Hospitals (subject to restrictions)/empanelled Civil Hospitals/Diagnostic Centres and specialist Consultants in all such stations. Salient Aspects of ECHS 42. It covers complete spectrum of ESM pensioners settled in far-flung areas of the country through a network of Polyclinics in military and non-military stations. This will bring outpatient treatment and medicines closer to the location of pensioners, and they will no longer have to go only to service hospitals that are often located far away. 43. The Scheme is wholly financed by Government of India from Public Funds through the Army budget, with only marginal contribution from retiring and retired service pensioners. All expenditures under this scheme are auditable. Since GOI/MOD has financed the scheme, the modalities for its implementation are being set out in a series of eleven administrative and financial procedures, based on the broad policy letter of 30 December 2002. Contributions from members do NOT run the scheme (as is commonly believed) and their money goes into a consolidated fund. There is no connection between Receipts from pensioners and Expenditure done from public accounts. 44. It will have a network of 227 polyclinics - 104 co-located at military stations with service hospitals (where existing), and 123 new Polyclinics at specified non-military stations. Location of these 227 Polyclinics, as well as their size/type, has been based on the density of ESM pensioners residing in a district. All India list of Polyclinic location is given at Appendix to this Brief. 45. ECHS will reduce the out patient load on service hospitals, since an exclusive Polyclinic facility for ESM pensioners will be located alongside the MH. Experienced and caring Polyclinic staff (medical and non-medical) will be recruited, on contractual/basis, through properly constituted Boards of Officers appointed by Station Commanders. 46. In addition to existing Service Hospitals, good and qualified Civil Hospitals/Diagnostic Centres and Consultants will also be empanelled by local Station Commanders, through empowered Station Board of Officers. These Hospitals/Diagnostic