ECHS: Shortage of medicines hits Chandigarh polyclinic

Fri, Mar 5 04:46 AM
Chandigarh, including its surrounding areas, has a large population of ex-servicemen, who depend on the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinic in Sector 29, for their healthcare needs.

The ECHS is only a Type B polyclinic and is one of the few in the country that run from a temporary accommodation.

Still it handles nearly 500 patients daily, which is three times its capacity.

The patient-satisfaction level at the ECHS polyclinic was high till about two months ago when it was hit by shortage of medicines. The pinch of this shortage is felt more by patients who are above 75 years of age because they cannot make frequent visits to the polyclinic.

Some patients, who are above 80 years of age, come to the polyclinic from far off places with attendants with the hope that they will return home with their full quota of medicines to last them a few months.

But when they are told that several medicines prescribed to them are not available and they will have to revisit after a few days, their heart breaks as they are neither physically fit nor have the resources to make repeated trips to the polyclinic.

With anger written large on their faces, one sees patients cursing the staff for their inability to supply them with medicines.

Why should there be any shortage of medicines? It gets the supply of medicines from the Command Hospital, Chandimandir, which, under no circumstances, should fall short of medicines as its Commandant has enormous powers to make local purchase of medicines under the ECHS rules. Where is then the hold up? Why should the patients be made to suffer?

Who would come to their rescue? Why are those entrusted with the powers to look after the healthcare and welfare of ex-servicemen and their families allowing this situation to continue?

Meanwhile, Mohali has been waiting to get its own polyclinic for the last more than three years. And of the patients that throng the Chandigarh polyclinic, more than 50 per cent are from Mohali.

In phase 1 of the health scheme that ended on March 31, 2008, 227 polyclinics were established across the country.

In phase 2, after a long delay, 107 polyclinics were sanctioned and it was learnt in July last year that the Mohali polyclinic was on top of this list and would come up soon. So far, there is no news about it. It seems that like other organisations, the Army has also become a victim of babudom.

The Headquarters Western Command has been trying to get Mohali a polyclinic since 2007. But it has not succeeded so far. Express News Service
Shortage of medicines hits Chandigarh polyclinic
ECHS Complaints from Ex Servicemen

Comment:
The patient- satisfaction level of ECHS members across the national spectrum (227 polyclinics and 107 still to be established) is fast sliding to a dismal low. Mainly it is because of the Red Tape and Babudom which has been cunningly transferred to the Military run organisations.