1.    Introduction.     The aim of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is to provide comprehensive and quality medical care to Ex-Servicemen for all known diseases. The ECHS was launched on 01 Apr 2003. The following categories are eligible for availing the facilities on membership:-

(a)     Ex-servicemen drawing pension/ disability pension.

(b)     Widows drawing family pension.

(c)     Spouse of pensioner.

(d)     Unemployed sons below 25 years

(e)     Unemployed and/or unmarried daughters.

(f)      Dependent parents whose income is less than Rs. 1500/- per month.

(g)     Mentally/ Physically challenged children for life.

2.      Facilities.    Medical facilities are to be provided through a network of 227 Polyclinics spread across the country. In the Phase-II Expansion an additional 199 Polyclinics are being established.  Basic outdoor services will be provided at the Polyclinics. In case further management is required, referral will be made from ECHS Polyclinics to Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals, Empanelled Private Hospitals/ Dental and Diagnostic Centers. These referrals can only be made by authorized staff of the Polyclinics.

3.     In emergencies and life threatening conditions, when patients may not be able to follow the normal referral procedure, they are permitted to be admitted to any / nearest hospital. In case of admission to an empanelled facility, the member would be required to produce his/ her ECHS card as proof of ECHS membership. In such circumstances the empanelled hospital is required to inform the Polyclinic of that station, or the nearest Service Hospital/ Station Headquarters, in case the Polyclinic cannot be contacted, within a period of 48 hours, regarding the particulars and the nature of admission. The OIC Polyclinic may make arrangements for verification of the facts and issue of a formal referral. Details of ECHs Polyclinic in Command AOR are attached at Appx ’A’.

4.   Guidelines For Domiciliary Rehabilitation Medicine Intervention For Reimbursement To ECHS Beneficiaries

(a)      Guidelines      Domiciliary care is medically justified in the practice of rehabilitation medicine which involves the care of th7e patient with chronic diseases or temporary or permanent disability or function limitation due to lack of health or disease. It is justified to provide holistic domiciliary rehabilitation medicine service instead of piecemeal home based physiotherapy only.

(b)      Condition requiring domiciliary rehabilitation intervention are:-

                 (i)       Orthopedic disorders.

(ii)      Post Stroke.

(iii)     Traumatic Brain Injury.

(iv)     Gullian – Barre Syndrome

(v)      Spinal Cord Injury with Significant Disability / Deformity.

(vi)     Motor Neuron Disease.

(vii)    Locomotor Disability

(viii)    Neurological disorder.   

(c)       Prescription for home based rehabilitation pgme

(i)       Electrotherapy.

(ii)       Active Exercise Therapy.

(iii)       Activity of Daily Life Training

(iv)      Speech Therapy.

(v)       Gait Training.

(vi)      Passive Exercise.

5.       Latest Developments

(a)      Standardisation of med treatment by adhering to bench mark of National Accreditation board for Hospitals (NABH).

(b)       Upgradation of ECHS Smart Card from 16 KB to 32 KB incl history of treatment.

(c)        Empanelled Hosp to issue 07 Days medicines after treatment.

(d)      Medicines for 60/90 days can be issued on a case to case basis after    endorsement of the treating doctor
 

6.       ESM Help Line   There are 21 ESM help line Centers in the Comd AOR, which help veterans to clarify details of ECHS and other aspect related to the ESM.