Advisory to Health Care Organisations (HCOs) empanelled under ECHS in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic

No 22B(03)/2021-D(WE/Res-1)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi the 5th May 2021

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

To,
The Managing Director
Central Organisation, ECHS
Thimayya Marg, Near Gopinath Circle
Delhi Cantt —10

SUBJECT: ADVISORY TO HEALTH CARE ORGANISATIONS (HCOs) EMPANELLED UNDER ECHS IN VIEW OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

1. The second wave of COVID 19 Pandemic in the country has thrown a challenge of immeasurable proportions and is claiming thousands of lives everyday. This scourge can be defeated only through collective efforts by all. The Health Care Organisations in the country are at the forefront fighting this menace doing their best to save lives. Entire nation will forever remain grateful to the health care workers and doctors for their tireless toil in saving precious lives.

2. The Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme with a large beneficiary base of elderly and vulnerable Ex Servicemen is heavily dependent on the empanelled hospitals for their health care. In these times of distress the need for medical treatment in the empanelled hospitals has been felt even greater. The Memorandum of Agreement with the empanelled hospitals gives the Ex Servicemen unequivocal right of treatment in the empanelled hospitals. However, It has painfully come to our notice that ECHS beneficiaries, some in very serious COVID condition, are being denied admission in the empaneled hospitals where these beneficiaries go with great hope and confidence of obtaining med treatment.

3. Duly mindful of the pressure on the ECHS empanelled hospitals due to the peculiar circumstances and challenges of these times, it may kindly be noted that necessary measures be taken by the HCOs_ so that the ECHS beneficiaries are not denied the required and rightful medical attention.

(Dr PP Sharma)
OSD(WE &IC)