Karnataka MP Captain Brijesh Chowta raises ECHS delay issue in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta on Thursday urged the Ministry of Defence to introduce a time-bound reimbursement system under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to restore hospitals’ confidence in the scheme and ensure veterans receive uninterrupted healthcare.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Captain Chowta highlighted the undue delays in settling medical bills under the ECHS.

He pointed out that, due to prolonged reimbursement delays, private hospitals across the country are withdrawing from the scheme, severely affecting timely healthcare access for ex-servicemen and their families

Citing the example of Kodagu district in Karnataka — known for its distinguished military legacy — he said that in the absence of ECHS-empanelled private hospitals, elderly veterans are forced to travel 100–150 km through difficult hilly terrain even for basic medical care.

He noted that this is part of a wider national pattern where delayed payments have made empanelment financially unsustainable for many hospitals.

Captain Chowta emphasised that the ECHS currently serves over one crore beneficiaries annually, making it essential to establish a reliable and time-bound bill settlement mechanism to safeguard veterans’ access to healthcare.

He urged the Ministry of Defence to immediately implement a streamlined, time-bound reimbursement system so that hospitals regain trust in the scheme and ex-servicemen receive seamless medical care.