Expansion of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of 199 additional New Polyclinic including 17 mobile military medical facilities alongwith 15 New Regional Centres and re-organisation of Central Organisation ECHS. Authorising additional 67 officer and 270 PBOR at 15 New Regional Centres, Central Organisation ECHS and 2263 additional contractual employees for 199 new polyclinics will enhance quality of medicare provided to Ex-Servicemen.

Financial implications towards creation of infrastructure will be about Rs.141 crore. This will entail a capital expenditure of Rs.118.52 crore towards cost of land, construction and medical equipment. An amount of Rs.22.25 crore of expenditure will cover purchase of furniture etc, and IT hardware. On the recurring side, an expenditure of Rs.43 crore per annum is envisaged.

The expanded network envisages 426 polyclinics in 343 districts of the country which will benefit Ex-servicemen residing in remote and far flung areas. The expanded network envisages coverage of about 33 lakh beneficiaries.

Background: The ECHS was introduced with effect from 01 April 2003 to provide comprehensive medical coverage of Ex-servicemen Pensioners, war window and dependents by establishing 227 polyclinics at Stations with ex-servicemen population above 2500 through out the country.

A large segment of Ex-servicemen are staying at locations where there is no ECHS Polyclinic within a radius of 200/300 km causing great inconvenience in accessing medical facilities. To address this 199 polyclinic will be established in those places with minimum ex-servicemen population of 1500.

At present Ex-servicemen residing in remote areas where the ex-servicemen population is less than 2500, face a lot of inconvenience in reaching the polyclinics due to distant location varying from 200 to 300 km from their place of residence. The expansion of ECHS will provide easy access to health facilities for such ex-servicemen and their dependents.

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