A damning report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), presented in Parliament on Thursday, has uncovered serious systemic failures in the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). The audit, covering the period from 2018-19 to 2022-23, highlights how inadequate hospital coverage, chronic staff shortages, and financial delays are severely impacting healthcare access for retired defence personnel and their families.
Critical Infrastructure and Coverage Gaps
The audit identified one of the most pressing issues as the uneven and insufficient geographical spread of empanelled hospitals. This forces beneficiaries in many regions to undertake exhausting long-distance travel to access specialized medical treatment. In response to the auditors' findings, the defence ministry stated that it has taken steps to simplify hospital empanelment norms and expand the network to partially correct this imbalance.
The review scrutinized the functioning of all key agencies responsible for the scheme. This included the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, the central organisation of ECHS, its regional centres, polyclinics, and service hospitals.
Chronic Manpower and Resource Shortfalls
The report flagged a persistent manpower crisis. It noted that the categorisation of polyclinics has not been updated since the ECHS was launched in 2003, despite a steady increase in the number of ex-servicemen over the years. Staffing levels at the central organisation, regional centres, and polyclinics have remained stagnant, failing to keep pace with demand.
The ministry informed Parliament that 1,357 additional personnel were sanctioned in November 2024. This allocation is intended for 23 new and 50 upgraded polyclinics.
Delays in Medicine, Payments, and Equipment
Auditors also raised alarms about significant shortfalls in essential resources. The report documented instances of delayed medicine supplies, outdated medical equipment, and aging ambulances. It further pointed to the weak functioning of mobile medical units, which are crucial for reaching veterans in remote areas.
A major operational failure highlighted was the delay in payments to empanelled hospitals and the reimbursement of beneficiaries' claims. The CAG attributed these delays primarily to inadequate fund allocation under the Ministry of Defence's budget head for revenue expenditure (MTRE). This financial bottleneck creates a ripple effect, discouraging hospitals from participating and leaving veterans out of pocket.
The cumulative effect of these shortcomings—inadequate hospital coverage, manpower shortages, and resource gaps—has directly compromised the healthcare access guaranteed to those who served in the nation's defence. The CAG report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform and increased funding for the welfare scheme.
