AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 98 of 170 member/dependent will be displayed on the operator’s screen, the data in respect of photographs being recalled from the computer’s hard disc (there being a limitation due to the 16 K chip of the SMART card in terms of the number of photographs that it can store). This will constitute an identification procedure. However, in the event a computer/card reader is not working at a given time at a polyclinic, treatment will not be refused. 25. The SMART card system will include a PHYSIOMETRIC/BIOMETRIC identification process to make the system fool proof and tamper proof, so as to prevent impersonation or fraud. This will be achieved by the system seeking the would be patient’s THUMB IMPRESSION on a touch pad the VERY FIRST TIME a member or his/her dependent goes to any polyclinic seeking treatment after membership has been accepted and SMART cards issued. Then and thereafter, the thumb impression, which will be permanently stored by the system, will constitute, along with the photographs etc, clinching proof of identity of the member/dependent. Normal Treatment Procedure 26. A member of the ECHS who reports to a polyclinic anywhere in the country will be prescribed treatment. If such treatment involves hospitalisation or being subjected to a procedure (such as a test/scan etc), the decision as to where the member will undergo the treatment/procedure will be left to the member’s final discretion. In order to assist him/her in arriving at a decision, each polyclinic will have a list of the nearest military medical facilities, and an UP TO DATE status of availability of beds, and/or a particular specialist. Thus, if it is needed to refer a patient to a military medical facility or an empanelled facility, the decision on where to go will be in the patient’s hands, subject only to the condition that if the transfer involves outstation travel, the COST of TRAVEL will be borne, out of pocket, by the member himself/herself. This will PREVENT any NEXUS vested medical interests may have with a particular empanelled facility, thereby minimising/preventing corruption. 27. In the MOU that the governing body of the ECHS will sign with each empanelled facility, approved treatment and approved rates will be specified, which will prevent any attempt by the empanelled facility from unnecessarily enlarging the scope of treatment/charges. Any attempt by an empanelled facility to resort to illegal acts will result in the empanelled facility being immediately black-listed. Emergency Treatment Procedure 28. Notwithstanding the above treatment procedure, wherein treatment will be availed at a polyclinic, a military medical facility or an empanelled facility on the basis of medical advice from a ECHS polyclinic, there may be unfortunate occasions wherein a member of the ECHS faced a medical emergency, and is unable to make it to an ECHS polyclinic or a known empanelled facility nearest to him in time/space. Under such circumstance, the member is allowed to avail of urgent stabilising treatment, pay for it out of pocket, and then claim the expenditure based on a direct application to ECHS Central HQ at New Delhi. It will be necessary to inform ECHS at the earliest of such an event. Timings of ECHS Polyclinics 29. Medical personnel will be available at ECHS polyclinics from 0800 to 1600, SIX days a week. Outside these timings, a doctor will be available on call, reachable on a cell phone etc.