AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 124 of 170 demand such equipment. Rules & Regulations for provision of specialist items are currently under approval of Govt. By and large these will follow the minimum standards of the CGHS, suitably upgraded for the ECHS. Question No 59. Will contributions towards ECHS be exempted from Income Tax, and can relief be claimed under Section 88? Answer. Case has been forwarded to Central Board of Direct Taxation (CBDT), Min of Finance – reply is awaited. We are hopeful of a positive outcome. Question No 60. Will re-imbursements be permitted under ECHS? What is the factual position regarding treatment of retired personnel in Service Hospitals – how will joining ECHS affect my status? Answer. (a) Reimbursement . The term “reimbursement” ceases to exist with the ECHS being put in place. No entitled ECHS Membership Card holder is required to pay any money for treatment/medicines at an ECHS Polyclinic, or at an empanelled hospital/diagnostic centre to which he has been referred to by the Polyclinic. All bills for treatment/medicines will be cleared directly by the ECHS organisation with the empanelled hospital/diagnostic centre. The only exception is that cheque reimbursement will be made to an ESM for emergency treatment undertaken in a non-empanelled hospital – for this certain conditions apply. These will be communicated in due course. Free treatment/medicines are assured to pensioner ECHS Card holders, provided they follow the ECHS procedure of first reporting to a Polyclinic and referral beyond. ECHS will not cover any expenses outside the laid down procedure. (b) Treatment at MHs . The factual position as of now is as follows. ESM/pensioners are presently not authorised treatment in MHs as a right – they are only entitled , ie, subject to availability of bed space, doctors, type of treatment and medicines. By joining the ECHS system , the ESM/ pensioner becomes an authorised category. The only difference is that his initial outpatient handling/treatment will be by the ECHS Polyclinic, rather then the Staff Surgeon of the MH. In case the ESM requires further reference/treatment, it can be provided to him in the nearest MH, subject to availability of medicines, treatment facility and bed space. Should that not be available, he/she will be referred to an empanelled civil hospital of the patient’s choice. It may also be noted that Command HQs have opened up a number of small MI Rooms, which cater to minor medical needs of ex-servicemen. These will continue to be operated under orders of Command HQs. Treatment provided thereat has no connection with the ECHS. To summarise, ECHS philosophy is, outpatient treatment by Polyclinic, and in–patient treatment by MH (subject to availability) and/or empanelled hospitals. (c) Treatment at Local Civil Medical Facility . The choice of empanelled hospital/diagnostic center is entirely that of the ECHS Membership Card holder. The procedure will be somewhat like this – the patient first has to report to the ECHS Polyclinic. In case the MO/Specialist at the ECHS Polyclinic suggests further treatment, the ECHS member will first be referred to local MH (where existing/where treatment facility is available). Should MH not have the desired treatment/doctor/bed space, the ECHS patient will have the choice of going to any empanelled hospital in the station. The choice of empanelled hospital will be his choice, and not that of the MO . Should the treatment not be available in that station, the ECHS Card holder can go to any empanelled hospital in India. Question No 61. In case an ESM/widow does not wish to join the ECHS, how will her treatment be affected under the present dispensation/rules? Can ECHS members avail treatment in R&R Hospital, Delhi Cantt?