Leadership too has Limits
The Scheme E x-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) provides healthcare to veterans through a chain of polyclinics across the country. The scheme relieves military hospitals of the ‘veteran load’ helping them focus on serving soldiers. More importantly, the scheme provides healthcare to a large number of veterans in regions where military hospitals do not exist. Contributory in nature, every soldier based on his rank pays a sizable contribution as he leaves service. Those retiring later and likely to avail the least, interestingly, pay the most. The scheme guarantees cashless treatment to a veteran and his dependents. Children are excluded as soon as they become independent. Veterans receive medical care at the polyclinics and if required are referred to locally empanelled hospitals for inpatient and outpatient care. Crisis ECHS is experiencing an unprecedented fund crunch. Essential medicines are now reported to be in short supply. In addition, piling unpa...