A delegation of Veteran Ex- servicemen comprising of all ranks from Army , Navy and Air force representing Southern Rajasthan belt met the Ex-Services Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) authorities located inside Military station Udaipur on 30 July 2012 to apprise them regarding problems being faced by the veterans in receiving authorized post retirement medical facilities under the contributory health scheme.

Brigadier (Dr) CP Joshi ( Retd) speaking on behalf of the Udaipur Ex-Services league saw a need of regular interactions between the ECHS service providers and the Veterans community, who are consumers of the scheme. The absence of formal meetings with a larger gathering of veteran’s results in communication gaps and misunderstanding hence the present meeting had to be sought without prior appointment and information.

The authorities on their part gave a considerate hearing to the following points that were brought out by the veterans:

(a) Creation of additional authorized Medical Clinics for the Mewar – Vagad region, as there is currently only one Type D Poly Clinic, located at Ekling Garh Military Category to cater to the Ex-Servicemen of this region that is spread over One Lac Sq. Km.

(b) An acute shortage of medicines in the second quarter of this year resulted in difficulties for veterans across the city even, not to talk of veterans staying in far flung areas, who had to make multiple trips to the facility. Veterans suffering from chronic diseases like Diabetes, need regular medication, hence Medicine availability needs to be augmented.

(c) No reputed empanelled Hospital in the entire Southern Rajasthan, apart from one Nursing Home. This creates difficulties in times of emergency.

It was also brought out that the facilities at the Divisional Govt Hospital were not up to the mark and the veterans referred there were neither attended properly nor provided treatment as per the authorization and covenant.

The Military Station ECHS officer and Officer in Charge Polyclinic on their part explained that the shortage of medicines in the five months from March 2012 to July 2012 was due to non-allotment of funds by higher authorities for the current Financial Year.

It was told that the allotment in the current year 2012-13 was likely to be only 50 % of last financial year thus priority will be given to essential life saving medicines only.

The procedures of tender actions and constraints of Government procurement policies were explained by the staff to the veterans. It was also told that the veterans should not depend for all their medical requirements on the ECHS facilities only and bear with the difficulties patiently.

The staff side also explained that the delay in procurement of medicines from the local market using the funds allotted for local purchase was inevitable. It was not in their hands to change the Government policy.

It has been decided by the Veterans group that the facts of the case and the difficulties should be projected by the Udaipur Ex-Services league to the concerned higher authorities and the following points should be highlighted-

(a) The allotment of funds for medicines as well as identification of additional Hospitals and Poly clinics should be reviewed by the higher authorities in light of the terrain of the region.

(b) Local Private Hospitals should be empanelled immediately so that proper referral facilities can be made available.

(c) Regular interaction through meetings between ECHS and Veterans.

(d) Proposed future plan of locating similar and smaller type D facilities at Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, etc.

(e) Up gradation of Type D Poly Clinic at Udaipur.

Subedar Major Laxaman Singh, a 92-year old Veteran suffering from Diabetes and severe Arthritis was one of the delegates in addition to Officers and other ranks from all the three services. Veterans Col. Baxi, Col. Pancholi, Subedar Major Sharma, Sergeant Pawar, Naik Chobisa, Naik Bhopal Singh, MWO Rao and CPO Sharma were other delegates who presented their problems and contributed to the formalization of representation.