ECHS became operational on 01st April, 2003 for Ex-Servicemen drawing defence pension along with their eligible dependents. The Scheme provides cashless and capless medical benefits to approximately 55 lakh beneficiaries. Special sanction of the Government of India has been granted on 07th March, 2019 to World War-II Veterans, Emergency Commissioned Officers, Short Service Commissioned Officers and Pre Mature Retirees by waiving off the mandatory conditions of being Ex-Serviceman and drawing pension from Controller of Defence Accounts.

ECHS provides medical services through a vast network of 427 ECHS Polyclinics in India, 06 in Nepal, 30 ECHS Regional Centres and Empanelled Health Care Organizations.

Personnel from the following organisations/ categories, apart from the Tri Services, are entitled for ECHS membership:

• Territorial Army.
• Defence Security Corps.
• Uniformed Indian Coast   Guard.
• Military Nursing Service. 
• Special Frontier Force.
• Nepal Domiciled Gorkha.
• Whole Time NCC Officers.
• Army Postal Service.
• Assam Rifles
• World War II Veterans, Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs), Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) & Pre Mature Retirees.

Around 1.65 crore beneficiaries have availed medical services and 17.65 Lakh beneficiaries have availed dental services through ECHS in the last three years and the current year.

The amount spent by the Department of Ex-Servicemen under the scheme during the last three years is Rs. 14,637.89 Crores and for the current year is Rs. 1768.38 Crores (as on 07 July 2022).

District-wise details of Empanelled Health Care Organisation (HCOs) in Andhra Pradesh are as under:

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu in Lok Sabha today.

ABB/Savvy