Lok Sabha Question No. 358 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 358

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th JULY, 2019

## EX-SERVICEMEN CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH SCHEME

*358. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)  the time since when the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has been operative;
- (b)  the number of Ex-servicemen who have availed the facility of the scheme;
- (c)  the response and the feedback of the operation of the scheme from Ex-servicemen;
- (d)  whether any grievances have come to the notice of the Government; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh राजनाथ स िंह )

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(a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  358  FOR  ANSWER  ON  17.07.2019 REGARDING 'EX-SERVICEMEN CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH SCHEME'.

(a)  Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched on 1 st April, 2003.

(b)  More than 52 lakh persons are availing benefit under ECHS.

(c)  &  (d):    The  satisfaction  level  of  ECHS  beneficiaries  is  high.    However,  some grievances are received which relate to shortage of medicines in Polyclinics, lack of empanelled hospitals/Polyclinics in certain areas, deficiency in services at empanelled/service  hospitals  and  delay  in  payment  of  medical  reimbursement  bills, etc.

(e) The following remedial measures have been taken:-

(i)  Non-availability  of  certain  medicines  in      stock  has  been  addressed  through  the following measures:

- (a) The  CGHS  system  of  Authorised  Local  Chemists  (ALCs)  has  been approved for ECHS on 22 nd August, 2017.
- (b) The  CGHS  norms  for  empanelment  of  Local  Chemists  have  been relaxed on 25 th June, 2018 to enable Polyclinics located in rural, semiurban, remote areas to empanel ALCs.
- (c) Under ALC system, Polyclinics have been allowed to obtain medicines that  are  not  available  in  stock  from  authorized  local  chemists  and provide the same to the beneficiaries.
- (d) Further,  on  30 th January,  2019  the  ECHS  beneficiaries  have  been allowed to purchase not-available  medicines for a maximum period of 15 days at a time subject to certain financial limits and conditions and seek reimbursement thereof.

(ii)  The process of empanelment is kept   open round the year and hospitals are free to submit  applications  for  empanelment  which  are  processed  and  hospitals  found fulfilling the requisite norms are empanelled.

(iii) Opening of new polyclinics based on demands of ECHS members and laid down norms is a continuous process.  As and when the Government considers it necessary, the Scheme is expanded by opening up of new polyclinics.

(iv) Whenever complaints of deficiency in services against empanelled hospitals are received,  the  matter  is  enquired  into.  If  found  true,  suitable  action  is  taken  against them in accordance with rules.

(v)  As per rules, in military stations, the spare capacity available in Military Hospitals is  required  to  be  utilized  before  beneficiaries  are  referred  to  private  empanelled hospitals. In case of non-availability of  spare capacity, service hospitals are empowered to refer the patients to private empanelled hospitals.

(vi)    In  order  to  ensure  faster  processing  and  payment  of  reimbursement  bills  of ESMs,  the financial powers of ECHS  authorities (Regional Director,  Deputy Managing  Director  and  Managing  Director)  have  been  enhanced  from  Rs.3  lakhs, Rs.5  lakhs  and  Rs.10  lakhs  to  Rs.  4  lakhs,  Rs.8  lakhs  and  Rs.15  lakhs  respectively w.e.f. 09.07.2019.

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