ECHS Polyclinic opens in Kolar

A free polyclinic for the ex-servicemen and their dependent family members was inaugurated by Air Marshall Rajendra Singh on the Tekal Road in the city on Wednesday.

The clinic was launched as part of the second phase of the world’s largest free medical service scheme ‘Ex-servicemen Contributory Health scheme’ (ECHS) of the Central government.

Under the second phase 100 new polyclinics will be opened across the nation, said Rajendra Singh who inaugurated the service. The ex-servicemen during their service period fearlessly fought for the country staying away from their families for a long duration. Providing good health service to these brave men is the topmost priority, said Singh who added that polyclinics were being opened to extend the service.

Group Captain M Mahapatra said 426 polyclinics had been established in the country under the scheme which was launched nine years ago in 2002. As many as 17 lakh servicemen and their 40 lakh dependent family members in the country will benefit from the scheme, under which 25 Regional Centres and 17 mobile clinics have been established.

The servicemen, after their retirement compulsorily become members of the scheme and contribute to the scheme. All those servicemen who retired from the service till January, 2003 are members of the scheme. The clinics fall under non-military category, he said.

Free medicines will be distributed up to one month from initial treatment. In case of emergency the patients will be admitted to other hospitals, Mahapatra added.

Clinic of their choice

The ex-servicemen are given two opportunities in a year to select the polyclinic of their choice. There are also attempts to make the clinics user-friendly, he added.

There are 3,600 ex-servicemen and 10,000 dependents in the district. After Kodagu, Kolar in the State has the highest concentration of ex-servicemen.

Each polyclinic will have a special doctor, dentist, two nursing staff and one lab expert. The clinics will function from morning 8 am to 4 pm in the evening from Monday to Saturday.

Mahapatra said online billing had been introduced in seven regional centres on a pilot basis. An all India-level helpline number, 080 43004300, has also been established for the benefit of users apart from the toll free no 1800 103 8666.

Air Vice Marshalls M K Malik, A S Nanda, Air Commanders S K Aggraval, B S Yadav, In-charge Officer R P G Naidu, In-charge Medical Officer Dr Ishaan Bali and others were present on the occasion.