ECHS indisposed
Private hospitals await crores in dues
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 13
All may not be well with the much-hyped Ex-Servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), a welfare initiative launched by the Centre for providing comprehensive medicare to veterans and their dependants.
While some new measures are being implemented to streamline the functioning of the ECHS, some issues like large outstanding payments to private hospitals empanelled under the scheme and modifying some procedures for availing treatment need urgent redress.
With outstanding payments mounting, some private hospitals are reluctant to entertain veterans and there have been instances where they have been turned away. Over the past few years, several reputed hospitals across the country have opted out of the scheme over procedural delays and deferred payments.
Among the largest private hospitals in the tricity, Fortis in Mohali, for instance, is reported to have outstanding payments amounting to Rs 30 crore since 2004. Silver Oaks, another private hospital, has outstanding dues of Rs 8.9 crore for the past four years.
Mukut Hospital, Sector 34, is awaiting payments of Rs 4.5 crore for the past two years and-a-half. Bills worth several lakhs each by laboratories and diagnostic centres are still to be cleared.
“The verification process for bills is long and tedious, involving several establishments and hierarchical levels,” Hemendra Jain, the official dealing with ECHS as Silver Oaks, has said.
There are 30 empanelled hospitals, diagnostic centres and laboratories in the tricity and 1,400 across the country. Going by the dues, outstanding payments nationwide may run into hundreds of crores, according to the ex-servicemen’s association.
Some issues also pertain to the functioning of the polyclinics that are directly operated by the ECHS. This includes heavy patient load and inadequate infrastructure.
To cater to a clientele of about 35 lakh, including 11 lakh ex-servicemen and 24 lakh dependants, and to operate 227 polyclinics, along with medical and paramedical staff and medical supplies, the ECHS has a budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
According to a study done by the Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement recently, the per capita expenditure under the ECHS is Rs 2,700 compared to Rs 5,100 from the Central Government Health Scheme for civilian retirees.
Sources at Western Command Headquarters claim that ECHS bills of private hospitals are being cleared within two weeks and payments of about Rs 20 lakh are being disbursed every day. A weekly roster has been developed, under which a particular day is devoted to dealing with bills of specific hospitals.
Sources at the headquarters admit that complaints and suggestions from the ECHS clientele keep coming in and various problems at the functional level are being sorted out from time to time.
They have also hinted at some policy changes and overhaul of the ECHS system, with a new managing director assuming charge of the ECHS. Maj-Gen A George has been posted from Chandi Mandir as the new ECHS head on a short notice.
Some measures like automating polyclinics to cut down manual administrative processes and releasing payments to private hospitals online within 10 days are being devised. Universal smart cards, that can be used to avail treatment at any polyclinic instead of only the user’s parent polyclinic, are also being issued.
ECHS indisposed Tribune report
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
ECHS: INTERACTIVE MEETING 21 Nov 2011..bangalore
ECHS: INTERACTIVE MEETING 21 Nov 2011
Dear Sir,
1. Command Hospital Bangalore continues to have the privilege of serving our veterans through its facility of ECHS Polyclinic, Bangalore (Urban).
2. To address the many concerns of our veterans and to jointly continue on the path of improvement, interactive meetings were being held from time to time. The last four meetings held in Aug 09, Nov 09, Jun 10 and Mar 11 and witnessed whole-hearted participation of our veterans. Constant efforts were being made by this hospital to enhance clientele satisfaction under the scheme.
3. The fifth interactive meeting is scheduled at Sushruta auditorium of Command Hospital at 1100 hrs on 21 Nov 2011 to update you further and to gather your valuable suggestions. Air Marshal DP Joshi, Director General Medical Services (Air) has kindly consented to preside over the meeting.
4. As in the past, we look forward to constructive inputs from you and invite you to attend. We invite points for consideration, they can be sent by email to comdtchaf@...
5. We are making facilities for Blood pressure check, Blood sugar check, Hb1C check, and dermatology checks at the venue. Spouses are also welcome to attend
“Together we can,
Together we should,
Together we will.”
AVM AK Behl
Commandant
Command Hospital (AF)
Bangalore
p.s. Could you circulate it to all veterans who could make use of this info (pl pass it on to other email groups as well) Thanks
Anil Behl
Dear Sir,
1. Command Hospital Bangalore continues to have the privilege of serving our veterans through its facility of ECHS Polyclinic, Bangalore (Urban).
2. To address the many concerns of our veterans and to jointly continue on the path of improvement, interactive meetings were being held from time to time. The last four meetings held in Aug 09, Nov 09, Jun 10 and Mar 11 and witnessed whole-hearted participation of our veterans. Constant efforts were being made by this hospital to enhance clientele satisfaction under the scheme.
3. The fifth interactive meeting is scheduled at Sushruta auditorium of Command Hospital at 1100 hrs on 21 Nov 2011 to update you further and to gather your valuable suggestions. Air Marshal DP Joshi, Director General Medical Services (Air) has kindly consented to preside over the meeting.
4. As in the past, we look forward to constructive inputs from you and invite you to attend. We invite points for consideration, they can be sent by email to comdtchaf@...
5. We are making facilities for Blood pressure check, Blood sugar check, Hb1C check, and dermatology checks at the venue. Spouses are also welcome to attend
“Together we can,
Together we should,
Together we will.”
AVM AK Behl
Commandant
Command Hospital (AF)
Bangalore
p.s. Could you circulate it to all veterans who could make use of this info (pl pass it on to other email groups as well) Thanks
Anil Behl
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
ECHS mail by MD , ECHS
From:Srivastava
Date: Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: ECHS
To:
Sir,
1 Now the ECHS membership and cards are given to indls during the discharge drill at respective depot coys/btys. (Translation: CABS(demob) for sailors and NHQ/DOP for officers. Carl)
2. Verification procedures are in place for ex-servicemen who have yet not taken ECHS membership.These have to be done.
3. There have been instances of persons seeking ECHS membership using fake discharge books and fake PPOs. As a consequance, now the application forms have got to be vetted by respective Records before membership is accepted.
4. It is now intended to stop ECHS membership to pre 2003 retirees wef 01 Dec 11.The scheme was to be closed for the pre retirees on 31 Mar 08 but had been kept open purely as a welfare measure.
MD ECHS
Date: Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: ECHS
To:
Sir,
1 Now the ECHS membership and cards are given to indls during the discharge drill at respective depot coys/btys. (Translation: CABS(demob) for sailors and NHQ/DOP for officers. Carl)
2. Verification procedures are in place for ex-servicemen who have yet not taken ECHS membership.These have to be done.
3. There have been instances of persons seeking ECHS membership using fake discharge books and fake PPOs. As a consequance, now the application forms have got to be vetted by respective Records before membership is accepted.
4. It is now intended to stop ECHS membership to pre 2003 retirees wef 01 Dec 11.The scheme was to be closed for the pre retirees on 31 Mar 08 but had been kept open purely as a welfare measure.
MD ECHS
ECHS...few observations...
From: Malu [mailto:pattamalu@gmail.com]
Sent: 16 June 2011 14:29
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: Re: SOME OF THE ARTICLES AND EMAILS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 229/2011 - 14 JUN 2011 (LIST-3)
My dear Brigadier Kamboj,
The mail from Lt Gen Vinay Shankar speaks volumes for the attitude of the Services towards Veterans.Lt Gen Vinay Shankar is an old soldier who is much respected. Treatment meted out to him is unacceptable. The IESM may like to take up the case with the COAS formally for taking action against those involved as also for sensitizing the services personnel in the matter of dealing with Military Veterans and their ladies / Widows.
The current lot of serving need to understand that if these attitudinal issues are not corrected now, these very serving lot may face a similar music when they retire.
If we, belonging to the Armed Forces fraternity do not respect our own lot be it serving or retired, how can we expect anything better from the civil Babus?
Regards,
Malu
Sent: 16 June 2011 14:29
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: Re: SOME OF THE ARTICLES AND EMAILS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 229/2011 - 14 JUN 2011 (LIST-3)
My dear Brigadier Kamboj,
The mail from Lt Gen Vinay Shankar speaks volumes for the attitude of the Services towards Veterans.Lt Gen Vinay Shankar is an old soldier who is much respected. Treatment meted out to him is unacceptable. The IESM may like to take up the case with the COAS formally for taking action against those involved as also for sensitizing the services personnel in the matter of dealing with Military Veterans and their ladies / Widows.
The current lot of serving need to understand that if these attitudinal issues are not corrected now, these very serving lot may face a similar music when they retire.
If we, belonging to the Armed Forces fraternity do not respect our own lot be it serving or retired, how can we expect anything better from the civil Babus?
Regards,
Malu
CORONARY VAN IN NCR FOR RETIRED NAVAL PERSONNEL
1. INS India has made arrangements with Kapoor Medical Centre, E-18, Naraina Vihar (24 Hours call centre No 98100 77777 and 011-25791387) for transfer of Naval Patient to service Hospitals.
2. Retired Naval personnel and their dependents can also avail the ambulance services at subsidized rates which are applicable to the serving personnel. Re-imbursement for the same will not be refunded from INS India. Case for reimbursement for availing ambulance by retired naval fraternity can be taken up with concern authorities.
2. Retired Naval personnel and their dependents can also avail the ambulance services at subsidized rates which are applicable to the serving personnel. Re-imbursement for the same will not be refunded from INS India. Case for reimbursement for availing ambulance by retired naval fraternity can be taken up with concern authorities.
Polyclinic at Noida..
Dear Col,
It is all due to your efforts and recommendations of the affected users of Noida Polyclinic that Col Bhardwaj has been given another tenure waiving off the age limit. Though I have never known the Col nor visited Noida Polyclinic; yet I strongly feel that such deserving cases must be retained.
I would like to share my own experience of another such gentleman, Col Shaunkhla, OC Jutogh Polyclinic. The Polyclinic is approx 13 Km away from Shimla where a number of veterans live. He makes sure that members get their medicines in one go and if for any reason, it is NA,he makes it a point to send it to a central place in Shimla where the veteran can collect the medicine, thereby avoiding a return trip of 26 Km in a hilly terrain.
His tenure is likely to be over in Nov 2011. If feasible, we should make efforts to get him another tenure, unless the officer himself wants to call it a day.
Col D P gupta
It is all due to your efforts and recommendations of the affected users of Noida Polyclinic that Col Bhardwaj has been given another tenure waiving off the age limit. Though I have never known the Col nor visited Noida Polyclinic; yet I strongly feel that such deserving cases must be retained.
I would like to share my own experience of another such gentleman, Col Shaunkhla, OC Jutogh Polyclinic. The Polyclinic is approx 13 Km away from Shimla where a number of veterans live. He makes sure that members get their medicines in one go and if for any reason, it is NA,he makes it a point to send it to a central place in Shimla where the veteran can collect the medicine, thereby avoiding a return trip of 26 Km in a hilly terrain.
His tenure is likely to be over in Nov 2011. If feasible, we should make efforts to get him another tenure, unless the officer himself wants to call it a day.
Col D P gupta
Monday, May 16, 2011
90 days medicine
I am forwarding this shocking mail for knowledge of the ESM community about the devil within. Pls share this with maximum people so it can perhaps reach the villians in this story through their friends. Names in this mail should identify who is who; and who did what.
For some of us the Sarkari Custodian attitude never goes away. We LIKE to sit on what is actually entrusted to us for others to benefit from. It is little wonder that origin of most of our problems lies in internecine rivalries/ perceived rankings/ priorities etc, forgetting that at the end of the game, the King and the Pawn go back to the same box. And the 'box' IS indeed the future destination of even the chess pieces in play.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rajeeve lochan
Date: Thu, May 12, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Subject: ECHS
Cc: Col RP Chaturvedi
Dear Brigadier,
As I am proceeding to USA to be with my son on the night of 19th May, yesterday (11.05.11) I visited ECHS Polyclinic Meerut and approached the seniormost medical officer (Maj Ambuj Goel) and requested for 90 days medicines, he informed that though the orders have been received but they have not been implemented and I should contact the O I/C polyclinic (Col D V Singh). He informed me that medicines for the purpose of going abroad are not authorised/permitted.
He mentioned that medicines for 90 days can only be given to patients of T B, Hypertension and Diabetes and that it has to be approved by the Commandant.
The medical officer made out a prescription and I went to the Commandant (Brig Pareek), I sent the prescription through his P A for counter signatures, first he called for the book and after that he called me and explained to me his financial difficulties and then he informed me that since I was residing locally why I need medicines for 90 days, I informed him that I was proceeding to USA for 6 monthe but I am requesting medicines only for 90 days which is permitted under the rules. Of course he did not take a minute and signed the prescription.
I request confirmation if for proceeding abroad the medicines are authorised or not.
We keep criticising babus and the bureaucracy but I think we in the Armed Forces have more bureaucracy than any where else.
May I have your reply pl. With warm regards.
Wg Cdr Rajeeve Lochan (Retd)
4/205, Rakshapuram,
Mawana Road,
Meerut - 250 001
Phone: 91-121-2623333
Mobile: 91-941-003-1824
For some of us the Sarkari Custodian attitude never goes away. We LIKE to sit on what is actually entrusted to us for others to benefit from. It is little wonder that origin of most of our problems lies in internecine rivalries/ perceived rankings/ priorities etc, forgetting that at the end of the game, the King and the Pawn go back to the same box. And the 'box' IS indeed the future destination of even the chess pieces in play.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rajeeve lochan
Date: Thu, May 12, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Subject: ECHS
Cc: Col RP Chaturvedi
Dear Brigadier,
As I am proceeding to USA to be with my son on the night of 19th May, yesterday (11.05.11) I visited ECHS Polyclinic Meerut and approached the seniormost medical officer (Maj Ambuj Goel) and requested for 90 days medicines, he informed that though the orders have been received but they have not been implemented and I should contact the O I/C polyclinic (Col D V Singh). He informed me that medicines for the purpose of going abroad are not authorised/permitted.
He mentioned that medicines for 90 days can only be given to patients of T B, Hypertension and Diabetes and that it has to be approved by the Commandant.
The medical officer made out a prescription and I went to the Commandant (Brig Pareek), I sent the prescription through his P A for counter signatures, first he called for the book and after that he called me and explained to me his financial difficulties and then he informed me that since I was residing locally why I need medicines for 90 days, I informed him that I was proceeding to USA for 6 monthe but I am requesting medicines only for 90 days which is permitted under the rules. Of course he did not take a minute and signed the prescription.
I request confirmation if for proceeding abroad the medicines are authorised or not.
We keep criticising babus and the bureaucracy but I think we in the Armed Forces have more bureaucracy than any where else.
May I have your reply pl. With warm regards.
Wg Cdr Rajeeve Lochan (Retd)
4/205, Rakshapuram,
Mawana Road,
Meerut - 250 001
Phone: 91-121-2623333
Mobile: 91-941-003-1824
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