GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Defence
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 678
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22^ND NOVEMBER, 2016
Deficiencies in Fuctioning of ECHS

678. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)   The steps undertaken to address gross irregularities and deficiencies in the functioning of the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) as detailed in the CAG report in December, 2015;

(b)  Whether there is a system of audit of medicines supplied to ECHS polyclinics;

(c)   Whether Government has taken any step to correct of excess ECHS cards; and

(d)  If so, the details thereof and, if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE

(a)   Corrective steps taken/ being taken to overcome the shortcomings/ deficiencies include outsourcing of pharmacy, authorization of local chemists, enhancement of financial power of Officer in-charge of ECHS polyclinic to obviate the shortage of medicines, processing of medical bills of all 28 Regional Centres on-line as per rules, appropriate of Memorandum of Agreement by the empaneled hospitals, recruitment of the manpower in ECHS polyclinics, de-duplication of ECHS smart cards etc.

(b)  Yes, Sir.

(c)   & (d): Yes, Sir. An exercise was carried out to identify the ineligible dependents in 2014. This has led to a reduction of approx. 1.6 lakh cards of dependants who have become ineligible and beneficiaries who have passed away being removed from the total list of beneficiaries. Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) recommendation for new ECHS Smart Cards has been accepted by the competent authority. The new smart card system will ensure that duplicate cards get eliminated.