AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 123 of 170 allowance (ie Rs 100/-). ECHS shall inform CDA concerned to stop payment of Rs 100/- as soon as SMART Card is issued to the ESM. b) If an ESM joins the ECHS, will he continue to get the medical treatment from service hospitals? Yes. An ECHS patient who is referred by his Polyclinic doctor will be admitted/treated in a Service Hospital provided speciality and bed space is available. Question No 56. What are the latest rates of contribution to the ECHS Scheme? Answer. a) Contribution. Rates of subscriptions for ECHS were amended by Govt of India, MOD letter NO 22(I)/01/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 01 Apr 2003 which are as under:- Pension/Family Pension (Rupees per month) Contribution (in Rupee) Upto Rs 1500/- Rs 1800/- Rs 1501/- to Rs 3000/- Rs 4800/- Rs 3001/- to Rs 5000/- Rs 8400/- Rs 5001/- to Rs 7500/- Rs 12000/- Rs 7501 and above Rs 18000/- b) The above rates are based on CGHS rates and as applicable to all Central Govt employees. c) To assist Ex-Servicemen in easy payment, Govt has approved payment in three annual equated annual installments. ECHS SMART Card will only bé valid for the period of subscription. Question No 57. Have any arrangements been made for publicity of the ECHS for the ESMs residing in rural areas? Is the contribution to be paid in one lump sum or can it be paid in installments? Where will the Polyclinics be sited in military & non-military areas? Answer. a) Publicity . The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is being advertised through newspapers, talk shows on Doordarshan and through bulletin ads on other channels. In addition English and vernacular posters have been published by Command HQs and displayed at CSDs, Military Hospitals and at Zila/Rajya Sainik Board premises. Besides this, ex-serviceman rallies are being addressed by service offrs to disseminate the essentials of the scheme. It is also hoped that the word will be spread by word of mouth to the furthest corners of each state, by serving soldiers proceeding on leave. All units should provide 4-5 application forms to each soldier proceeding on leave for handing over to ESM residing in their village. b) Payment . The payment has to be made through an MRO in one lump sum or through three yearly instalments. Card will become valid for life only after the payment of the third instalment. c) Siting of Polyclinics . Siting in military stations will be on A1 Land, and preferably adjacent to/within the premises of a Service Hospital. The final decision will be that of the Station Commander, and approved by his chain of command. As far as Polyclinics in non-military stations are concerned, these will be sited/selected by a Station Board of Officers and approved by Command Headquarters. Convenience of ESM will be kept in mind while siting. Question No 58. Will Digital Hearing aids be authorized under the ECHS? Answer. Yes. However, the authorisation of a Digital Hearing Aid has first to be approved by a qualified specialist and approved by a Service Specialist. It is not upto the patient to