ECHS- Feedback

Dear friends,

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched with effect from 01 Apr 2003. The aim of the Scheme is to provide quality medicare to its members and their authorised dependents through 227 ECHS Polyclinics and a network of service and empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres. The Scheme is fully financed by the Government.

There is a network of 227 polyclinics, ie, 106 Military and 121 Non Military Stations Polyclinics, based on density of ESM in various regions.

With the ECHS now functional for nearly five years, it is disheartening to hear criticism of the scheme.

There are numerous reasons for lack of popularity of the scheme. However instead of analyzing reasons, what is necessary, now, is to collect objective feedback and try to convince the authorities to carry out introspection with an open mind, and bring about improvements.

Having retired only in Dec 2006, I have very little experience of ECHS so far. However since some friends (coursemates in particular) have asked me to project a case, may I request you for your feedback. If you can collect feedback from your colleagues and forward it, you would contribute immensely to the cause.

Feedback is requested covering the aspects given below: -

Personal particulars .
Service No, Rank, Name.
Arm/Service/Regt/Branch.
Date of retirement/ leaving service.
ECHS Membership No.
Postal Address.
Email ID.
Phone/Mobile No.
Any other detail you wish to give.

Any comment regarding the org at the Army HQ (old name), Comd HQ, Stn levels.

Adequacy of staff vis a vis requirement. No of doctors and No of exservicemen dependent on the clinic. Is there a need to tailor the org of clinics based on requirements?

Competence and attitude of the staff.

Is there a need for more specialists, even on part time basis, once or twice a week?

Difficulties experienced in dealing with affiliated hospitals, and diagnostic centres.

Procedures followed by ECHS to prevent fraud or misuse. How justified and whether it is too bureaucratic. Any examples.

Any info on the finances of ECHS. Reasons for non clearance of bills of hosp, if known. Any avoidable expenditure in the clinics. Use of ECHS ambulances, if any (are they used for patients?).

Feedback systems in place. Attitude of different authorities.
Are you aware of any actions taken by any ex servicemen orgs or individuals, in this regard, so far? If anyone else is working on this please let me know.

Comment on the overall ambience. Is there place for patients to wait or do they wait in verandas and corridors? Parking space adequate? For how many vehs should it cater? This would depend on No of patients expected and time spent in clinics.

Your recommendations to make it an ideal org.

I intend using only authentic feedback with names and dates.

If some other issues arise on receipt of feedback I intend asking for more data to support such issues.

I will need data of as many stations as possible. I recommend special efforts to collect this data, to include interaction with pers in the clinics, and with the stn cdrs. Aim is to improve the system and not point out individual faults. The stn cdrs may be assured of the same, in case you interact.

May I take the liberty of reminding you that medical requirements will only increase with age. So efforts to collect feedback and attempts to bring about improvements are our investments for a better future. Feedback collected from senior colleagues will be most useful.

During visits to the ECHS or with your Regt affiliation could you please collect feedback from JCOs and OR, with their particulars.

Early action is requested. Comments should be sent on email ID echsfeedback@gmail.com

Even if our success is limited, we would have collected some data and made some progress which could be used in subsequent cases.

For those who do not know me, I would like to make it clear that I am no authority on the subject, and there are scores of senior offrs who would handle the case better. I harbour no grudge against any org nor do I have any axe to grind. Also I have no bitter experience of ECHS. I am doing this only because I hear a general crib and feel it is better to do something more positive.

Request excuse use of some commonly used abvns in my comns.

Regards.

Lt Gen KK Khanna, PVSM, AVSM** (Retired)