[Resolved]  ECHS — Non-effectiveness.............

Ex Sgt Sreekumar. V, retired in 1990, an Advocate by profession now. Since I was on regular employment with MNC I did not register & avail the ECHS facility till 2008. Lucky till then. Thereafter, started getting medicine from ECHS, Alleppey- after getting test/ consultation from a doctor outside.20 Sep 2012, changed the ECHS to Kochi, since I am staying at Ernakulam. What I have experienced from the "modus operindi" of ECHS, it is not serving the purpose for which it is designed. It is a re-employment opportunity for a few defence retired or their dependents, who think that they are doing a favor to the ex servicemen approaching them. About the management of the ECHS, it is only the convenience of the poly clinic. There are a few polyclinic, function with the very motive of helping the old and ailing ESM. Most ironic is the Referral drama. Empanelled hospitals are not authorised to give the treatment with out approval. Why a referral if the ailment is not getting treated, after it is diagnosed? Empanelled hospital try to prolong the treatment and extract maximum from the ECHS source. Unfortunate ESM, being the victim, face all this silently. Who is there to listen? Defence authorities!!!, Ministry of defence !!!, sorry, they are busy with national security !!!

There is need to be changes with ECHS process,

People go with pain and retunrned with harrash + pain.

This matter shoud be raise with union of ex serviceman.

The treatment in ECHS is not adequately covered. The general attitude is of poor efficiency and administration. Medicines are not available. Long ques are to be seen. Something is wrong somewhere.
Complete dental treatment is not available. Thr Army dental Centres are having some facilities like providing dentures, crowns and even implants, but the same is not extended to retired personnel. For the dental treatmentwhatever is possible in the Army Dental centres must be made available to retired personnel. I have experienced this problem personally. I needed a crown, a denture and now an implant, but i have been told that i have to get it done on my own. Then what is ECHS and Army dental Centres meant for.
I need to be advised for a suitable action. Is there any procedure to complain. Any email ids are available, or do we have go and beg someone at attend to our complaints.
JS

Hello,

I am employee in ECHS From Jul-2006 . I have made complaints twice before.

Many ECHS Members Have complaints, No doubt they may be right, , But who r the Listners of an Employee ?? waht is there security ?

If any body has answer please convey it...and No action on salary review since 5 years ?

Even Labor get more salary then an ECHS Doctor or ECHS Officer ...!!! Is It Fair ?

ECHS centres in enpanelled hospitals and even OICs are not aware of rules and guidelines drafted for the ECHS scheme. They are operating at their own whim and try to save the work as well as their skin with every case.

In case of even emergencies they are interested in CHECK, COUNTER CHECK AND COUNTER TO COUNTER CHECK the Membership card. And more so want patients kin to run around and get the refferal from the polyclinic. I don't know but could be suiting to other ECHS members as nobody is complaining.

Issues are lot more then these... but for that all the concern persons and authorities have to sit and think about it so that the noble cause with which this scheme is launched MUST NOT lost

Is there someone really looking at it and the problems being faced by echs members. members will complain n complain then they will either get used to it or shall forget about this facility.Pl get sign boards put in all poly clinics with addresses, phone nos and Email IDs of officers who are looking into the grievances of the members.

The ECHS Scheme appears to be moving towards the 'sick parade' system prevailing in the service hospitals and MI Rooms. The polyclinics refer the ECHS member to the nearby service hospital instead of referring them to local empanelled hospitals even in emergency cases. Unfortunately, the 'doctor saabs' in the service hospitals are unquestionable and the patients have no option other than to succumb to the whims and fancies of the service doctors who refer them again to a far away military hospital saying that the treatment is available there. This causes much anxiety to the patients who may not be physically or mentally able to travel long distances to unknown cities. When all advanced surgical / medical facilities are available in an empanelled hospital in the same city / town, it is highly irresponsible on the part of the service doctors to insist that the patient be sent to a distant military hospital. If any of the ECHS members have come across similar experiences, it is requested that they may express their experiences thru this web site and also project their complaints to the ECHS management for suitable action.

ECHS IS A FAILED CONCEPT. INSTEAD OF GIVING BUSINESS TO CIVILIANS, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BUILD UP THE SERVICE HOSPITALS IN TERMS OF ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, MA.NPOWER, MORE SERVICE HOSPITALS, EFFECTIVE PATIENT TRANSPORTATION .WHY THE DIFFERENCE AFTER RETIREMENT FOR A EXSERVICEMEN, WHO HAS GIVEN BLOOD YESTERDAY FOR PEOPLES OF TOMORROW?

Dear Paul,

You have made a very wrong judgment. Unless the ECHS is liberated from service hospitals, even the God can't save the scheme. You thought it is giving business to the Civilians!! Alas! the scheme needs to grow to the level of civilian hospitals.Let the scheme be developed into a 'mediclaim scheme' where the ex-service men can have direct access to the empanelled hospitals of repute by just producing the smart card without any referral from these service doctors enjoying the immunity o[censored]niform. You should understand that even a low ranked ex-service man is foregoing Rs. 100/- per month for being a member of the ECHS. A handsome Rs. 1200/- per year!!. Tell me which insurance company charges such a hefty sum for medical cover a year. What is needed now is - the polyclinics should work as facilitator to ex-service men for getting treatment in nearby hospitals- military or empanelled and let the bills go to a panel of doctors who can appreciate the cost of modern medicine. The obsolete rates of CGHS offered by the ECHS won't attract even Government hospitals.
The polyclinics should recruit people with a flair for public relation and pleasant behaviour.. but mind it! you cannot get them for peanuts.

sir,
Maximum ex service men try for their job any where in India. But before retirement naturally he gives nearest polyclinics name to his permanent address. But after getting job far away from his home town can not avail facilities on his smart cart at the poly clinic nearby to him without taking a letter from his parent polyclinic . That too for a period of 6 months. Is it possible to change his polyclinics whenever he shifts from one place to another????? Again apply with money, affidavit etc.,
What is the use of SMART CARD ?????? Just think with a cool mind. Please review the age old views
about resettlement. People used to look after their cultivation after their job. Please simplify the systems. Thank you.

THE ECHS UP TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN AN IDEA WHICH
IS GOING TO BE A MODEL FOR THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN ANY FACILITIES FROM ECHS BUT I AM SURE THAT I WOULD RUN FOR HELP.ARE THERE ANYONE WHO IS NOT GOING TO TAKE UP THIS FACILITY, IF
YOU ARE SICK?????I AM NOT HERE REFERRING TO ANY CASUAL DISEASES
BUT FOR SITUATIONS LIKE A MAJOR SURJER4Y.THERE MAY BE EX-SERVICE OFFICERS WHO WOULD NOT TAKE UP THIS FACILITY BUT FOR A MIDDLE CLASS EX-SERVICE OFFICER IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A BOON.

THIS KIND OF PROTEST IS ONLY BECAUSE OF,

THE EYES HAVE NO VALUE TILL YOU LOSS IT.

UNTIL YOU HAVE ANY USE OUT OF IT YOU FEEL IT IS JUST A DUMP.

AND THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING REJECTION SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

AND IT IS A WORRY FOR EVERYONE AS THE MONEY THAT WE
CONTRIBUTE IS NOT FULLY EXPLOITED.

Even the Officer in Charge of almost all the polyclinics are of non medical professional .Instead of being a MBBS. And 99% of executive class officer who are Oi/c poly clinic are not aware of any diagnosis and also medical norm and emergencies.although if still you want to employ such officer you please put them to look after general cleanliness of surrounding and that also under the command of MBBS officer who should be THE ONLY OiC of the poly clinic as like all the medical instituation/ hospital are commanded by THE DOCTOR irrespective of civil orgnisation as we all know.More almost most of retired officers are coming to see the doctor and if also doctor is busy with other patients then some of them used to seat with OiC office and making gossip (with tea also) and an ex service man is waiting to meet OiC .instead of this if this exserviceman enter to his office these executive class officer (i.e. OiC ) sought/ignored this situation because of that he is an executive trained only.where as not as medical officer .Totally all the OiC of poly clinic should be removed and MBBS doctor should be employed as the OiC poly clinic to solve all the problem in future.This is the most complicated root of all the ECHS poly clinic .

Respected Sir,
Kindly read this mail with patience and caution. Now I am going to reveal some secret problems to be dealt with. The problems are related to corruptions done in CSK Canteen, Trichy division.
From our canteen many liqour bottles have been corrupted with the influence of the manager. A dealer buys 10 bottles for 400Rs.Even inside the canteen kitchen they are selling in pegs. They are minting money through this illegal business. All the bottles are going out with the knowledge and prior permission of the manager. The main culprit is A.JOHN LOUIS. He is the security in tanjore canteen. Now at present he is in trichy canteen.He is the right and left hand of the manager.At 4 o clock he will leave canteen before his duty time is completed.Only with his knowledge everything moves out,
The customers who apply for smart card will use paper cards until the smart card is given to them.With help of those numbers from the paper card the customers buy goods.After the purchase is over the paper card will be locked.Per day not even 10 paper cards will be circulated but they prepare 20 to 30 paper cards and buy lots of liquors and sell it outside illegaly. This is done with the help of the manager. The person who possess a little computer knowledge can find all these corruptions easily.
For Eg.On 11/03/2010 only three paper cards have been entered.

PAPER CARD NO. ARMY NO. NAME

GRO[protected] Late.Mariyappan
(P.C no.02426)

GRO[protected] Late.Jaganathan

[protected] Chauhan Ajmal

But there are more number of cards been entered, they are

PAPER CARD NO. ARMY NO. NAME

[protected] Sivakumar
14264168A 06875 Sivakumar
[protected] Shanmuga vadivu
0007 JC196014 A.Sundaram
[protected] A.Louis
[protected]A Nithyanandham
[protected] Nithyanandham
[protected] R.Krishnasamy
4774A 219965A R.K.Samy

This smart card maintanence is done by Mr.Kaalamegam. A 67 age old man who is working since 2003 but the shocking news is that he is not a canteen staff. He is the binami of manager Mr.Balraj.
Manager G.Balraj and Kaalamegam will not give smart card to the customers at once.They will use the customer's smart card for 2 to 3 months and buy the goods and sell them outside. There are some brokers who get commision of about Rs.100 per Rs.1000. Per day they sell goods worth Rs.50, 000 and gain a commision of Rs.5, 000. Their average commission per month will exceed more than Rs.1, 00, 000. They have 2 to 3 contractors for moving the goods.Everything is done with the knowledge of watchman LOUIS. He collects Rs.500 per negotiation.From the year[protected] each customer was given seperate card for liqour and goods.But the watchman will only give goods card and keep the liqour card with himself.When the customer claims for the liqour card they give a new one. If you raid the manager's house you can get 100's of liqour cards. They have minted more amount of money with the help of these liqour cards.The culprits are Radhakrishnan Asst Salesmen in Tanjore, Rajendran from Vasantha Bhavan Hotel and Kamal. They are all the Binami's of the manager Balraj.
Rajendran knows all the staff's of the canteen.He acts like a Asst.Manager and gives orders to the staff's.He has more than 10 Officers smart cards.
There is a woman who worked in Nagapattinam canteen as a sales woman (Tamilselvi) is now transfered to Trichy Branch.She is at present working in liqour bill section. She joined here with the manager Balraj's recommendation. She even don't know to type her own name in English but she gets the Highest Salary among the canteen staff's. Likewise Jaya a person who worked in Namakkal Canteen is now transfered to Trichy. Another influencial person is the unloading man Pandiyan. He moves out the liqour bills with the help of Tamilselvi.
Pandiyan, Tamilselvi and liqour sales man Ravi with the help of the watchman Louis is doing this illegal business. Manager Balraj is the sole owner of this illegal business. Manager Balraj will correct all the staff's who comes on inspection by taking them to some holy spots and brain washes them.He will give them box and boxes of Money. He always uses vulgar words to abuse all the staff's. Nobody will open their mouth against him. If they do so he will book fake cases on them and send them to Jail. He has corrected all the Policeman by giving them liqour bottle's.
The manager Balraj will give all the loading and unloading charges not in money but in liqour bottles. If a customer misses his smart card in the canteen they will keep it to themselves and if the customers ask for the missing card then they will ask them to bring the F.I.R copy and then ask him to apply for a new smart card.
For Ex. Missing Card Numbers...

ARMY NO. RANK
[protected] GDSM
NAME- A.MUTHUKRISHNAN
SMART CARD NO. LA[protected]

15784756F- GNR- R.J.SELVAM
SMART CARD NO. LA[protected]

At the same time the smart cards of the expired persons is used by them for 2 to 3 months and then only they hole the cards. Through a single dealer the manager gets more than Rs.1, 00, 000 money. Under his undertaking there are 5 canteens. So he gains more money which he burries in the underground of his house.He has spies in every departments.Nobody can complaint against him. If done he will easily find it out.For each postman he would give 2 liqour bottles per week. This is because nobody should write to the higher authorities against him and if it is done they will give all the letters to the manager Balraj himself.He will give 4 bottles for the despatch clerks in the station head quaters and ask them to neglect all the complaints before rooted to higher officials. He is acting like a good person after commiting so many crimes.Ther are many Ex service man without a job but he has appointed a 67yrs old culprit. Is this fair? In the coming Month he has appointed many new candidates. They will also work for him. Then the canteen will not be saved at all.
Kindly take steps to have a control and save the growth of the canteen...
I'm a Welwisher of INDIAN ARMY...

ECHS polyclinics have become rehabilitaiton centres for retired Commissioned Officers. Every person visiting ECHS polyclinic is a patient. Disease has no discrimination. But the officials at polyclinic has descrimintation of a Commissioned Officer and Other ranker. After shedding the uniform all ex-servicmen should be treated equally. Even the definition of ex-servicemen do not descriminate berween Officer and Other Ranker. Our constitutuion provides equal status to all citizens. But in ECHS, Officers get preferential treatment not only in their turn to see the doctor but also in treatment. Yamadharmaraja do not give preferential treatment. When the scheme was introduced it was said that the treatment would be as per the choice of the patient. But now lot of hurdles are created by way of processing through service hospitals etc. In service hospitals the ECHS patients are treated like unwanted guests. Eye wash treament is given. The specialist mostly are ameteurish. This is resulting into ECHS patients becoming guinea pigs for the experiments of the service doctors.

JWO.M.V.Subba Rao

I 629315N Ex JWO SK jhajhria had taken retirement on 21.11.2008. While my pre mature retirement I have not been informed about the ECHS card.Presently I am running here and there no body listeninng my voice.Army area Jodpur office not helping me.They says that you have to pay RS.19000 more.Once ECHS amount is alredy taken while my retirement time.Rule for increase the ECHS amount taken place in 2009.But I had taken retiremnt in Nov 2008. Kinly do needfull as soon as possible.
Ex JWO SK jhajhria
Sanghi ka hatha High court colony Jodhpur.
M.[protected]

Medical officer in policlinic must be relieved after two years.Thereafter let him face difficulties as other exservice men/women are facing.The best result will be seen if medical officer who is retired at least three years ago is invited for this job.

sir,

Why the doctors not forwarding the cases to corporate hospitals where the treatment can avail under one roof. The doctors who are deployed in ECHS clinics are actors. Seems to be doctors but seriousness of illness can not recognosed by them. If a patient reaches to hospitals in coma then only they will think some seriousness with the patient.

Most of cases forwarding to the service hospitals where we have to go for various OPDS for one treatment. For blood tests it will take at least one day.
The other day we have to show to the doctor if available.

In service hospitals : Thinking that they are doing charity. They are paying from their pocket.

THINK ONCE IT IS ECHS.NOT DOING ANY CHARITY.

Sir,
I am Ex J.W.O I took discharge in[protected] .If i see official wesite of indian army my ECHS one time contribution falls in 12000/- catagory(Between Rs 10001 to 15000/-) but I am being asked to pay 27000/- at M.H DEVLALI NASIK .I fail to understand if they are right why is the website not updated.Concerned auth. should take urgent note of this.
S K MISHRA

I am Ex Sgt from Air Force and the memebre of ECHS sicne 2008. In initial it was informed us that if needed the patient would be referef to the empaneled hospital in the city. my wife is a patient and reported at ECHS Faridabad. They informed that the government has changed the policy so they cant refer my wife to empanelled hospital i.e. Escorts Faridabd, they only can refer to Charitable hospital at Delhi. I dont understand why one should go to Delhi from Faridabad for treatment and that to charitable hospital. Dont you think it is cheating to the service personnels being done by this organistaion. We have contributed for this in advancve.

Jagvir

not only the prblem with the distance, specialised doctors are not available every day for treatment, eg: bangalore ch ortho only available on wed and saturday, if any of these days becomes holiday patient has to wait till next turn of the doctors availability.And also the procudure in CH is very cunmbersome, patient has to wait 24 hrs for x-ray report and go next day to another reffered doctor with this report.Please look into these problems and try to solve .

Better stop this nonsense. ECHS is fast becoming another sick report thamasha..only difference is you have to pay for it...BN