CGHS modernises and ECHS struggles

INDIAN EXPRESS OF 17TH JULY 2009-PAGE4: CENTRE PLANS TO REVAMP CGHS SOON
Dear Sirs,
1. We are aware that Full Bench of Consumer Court Of India have elevated Medicare to be part of Pension and other post retirement benefits. Still further Pension being deferred wages for services already rendered is a Right and not gratis under the Constitution. The Government is obliged to meet all expenses as authorised for Civil Hospitals including the difference between the CGHS rates and market rates.

2. I recall 1st MD/ECHS telling the audience at USI a few years back that IAS cannot countenance ECHS providing superior medical facilities than CGHS. The Senior Officers also wanted ECHS to be Army backed provider. CGHS has been already revamped majorly. Now as per news item reproduced below in full it would be seen that CGHS is gal lopping ahead to even better provider than in the West and the other developed countries. Of course Health Insurance Sector also seems to nudging Government in this direction.

3. If one were to take what the ECHS professes that the Government is not favourably disposed to ECHS being made full scope health provider to Ex-Servicemen, then there seems to be gap between the two positions. Air Marshal Retired [Medical Services] who ushered in ECHS believed that the MOD if it accepted to services being provided as per the stated aim it would take 10 years to restructure but CGHS is already there in 5 years.

4. I would like to think that IESM which is tackling the anomalies of the 6th Pay Commission should also look into ECHS along with OROP! The question arises as to why DESA is permitting exploitation of Ex-servicemen particularly Cols and below and PBORs at ECHS Clinics and R&R Hospital. Why they should be saying this and that and be judgemental. If during 5 yearly review it was noticed that lot of undesirable things happening, then how come CGHS which had greater leaks is being revamped successfully. In fact ECHS Dispensaries in some areas provide Ayurvedic and Homeopathic treatment under the same roof in Delhi?

5. The Doctors and the Staff openly state that their first priority is to take care of serving personnel and rightly so. Till such times additional infrastructure is in place, some temporary measure can be adopted. Diagnostics can be done outside R&R. Medicines can be outsourced. R&R can function in multiple shifts like AIIMS. It can hire temporary Civil Professionals. In fact AIIMS biggest asset is number of PhDs undergoing training who not only assist the Professors majorly but also go down and man personally diagnostic centres and how knowledgeable they are in getting down to the bottom of things. Because in the evening they have to face the whole department and colleagues and no complaint of the patient is swept under the table.

6. It is sincerely hoped that all efforts would be made by those who can make a difference both on account of recommendations of 6th Pay commission and otherwise to benefit the Ex-Servicemen under the original objective of providing timely and comprehensive medical care would to all Ex-Servicemen.
With best regards,
Commander Prem P Batra (Retd)
Centre Plans To Revamp CGHS Soon by Teena Thacker: Indian Express 17 July 2009