Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme

The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is a healthcare program initiated by the Government of India under the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. Launched in April 2003, its main objective is to offer quality medical care to Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents. The scheme utilizes the medical facilities of the Armed Forces as well as private empanelled and government hospitals throughout India.

ECHS’s Growing Network of Medical Facilities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 409
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21st July, 2023

EX-SERVICEMEN CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH SCHEME

409. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:
     Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to revise the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme(ECHS);

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details regarding the last revision of terms and conditions of entitlement of ECHS subscribers;

(c) whether the Government proposes to revise the scheme for giving proper accommodation to all categories of ECHS, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to provide room facility for all ex-servicemen irrespective of their rank for accommodation in hospitals during inpatient treatment, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to provide more facilities to the members under ECHS, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI AJAY BHATT)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a): No, Sir. There is no proposal for revision of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

(b): Not applicable.

(c): No, Sir. There is no proposal to revise the scheme for giving proper accommodation to all categories of ECHS.

(d): No, Sir. There is no proposal to provide room facility for all ex-servicemen irrespective of their ranks for accommodation in hospitals during in-patient treatment.

(e): Yes, Sir. In order to provide more healthcare facilities to the members under ECHS, the number of empanelled Health Care Organizations (Private and Government) are increased through a continuous process of empanelment.

At present it has 30 Regional Centres (RC) and 433 Polyclinics (PC) pan India including 06 in Nepal and more than 3000 empanelled medical facilities with a total beneficiary base of approximately 58 lakhs.

The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched in April, 2003 to provide quality medical care to the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents by utilizing the existing medical infrastructure of Armed Forces and private empanelled/government hospitals across the country.

Source: Loksabha

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