Grievances/ Points from the ECHS Members of Indian ExServices League Tamil Nadu submitted to Director RC Chennai to put up the same before Dy MD ECHS during his visit to Chennai on 01-05-22.

Grievances/ Points from the ECHS Members of Indian ExServices League

Tamil Nadu submitted to Director RC Chennai to put up the same before Dy MD ECHS during his visit to Chennai on 01-05-22. 

1. A fresh case be taken up with appropriate authority for upward revision of ECHS Rates. 

Though time and again this request was turned down by authorities concerned but we are helpless. We the ECHS Members are at receiving end, we need more empanelled hospitals in and around Chennai.

 Many hospitals in Tamil Nadu have expressed unwillingness for empanelment/ renewal of MOA  saying the ECHS Rates are very low. 

2. The provisions for making a portion/ part payment as advance payment for listed procedures ie as  advance payment to empanelled hospitals  be looked into as it is being done by many health insurance companies. This will atract many hospitals to review their stand towards ECHS and we may find more hospitals expressing willingness for empanelment with ECHS 

3. (A) Bill Processing Agency (BPA ) be given strict instructions to stick to a time bound program given to them for processing the bills. 

(B) Refer 3 (A) Panalty be decided and imposed for any delay by BPA  

(C) Peace meal observations by BPA  should be avoided and  all their observations on the bills should be given in one go 

( D ) Cut/ deduction in the bills should accompany detailed reasons and hospitals should be given a chance to settle the observations /objections resulted to cut / disallowance.  If possible to enable them to look into the possibilities of claiming the deducted. This will enable many empanelled hospitals to review their stand for  renewal of MOA .

(4) Austerity measures and cut in the budget provisions by GOI should not be applicable to ECHS being a paid scheme. The situation for Non availability of funds or short fall of funds for ECHS should never arise . Adequate funds as projected by RCs should be made available CDA . The delay in clearing the payment for the bills was due to non availability of funds with CDA ( ECHS ) . This situation should not arise in future.

5. (A) Ban imposed on taking over the land for C and D type ECHS should be lifted where State Govt or NGOs are  giving land  free of cost . They should be allowed to take over. 

(B) Ban imposed on new construction of buildings for C and D Type polyclinic should be lifted because in many locations where District collectors or the State Govt has allotted land are asking the local ECHS PCs to return the land if not utilised with in the time frame mentioned in the allotment letter. Incase such free allotted land is returned to District/ State the chances for fresh allotment again is very remote hence the general ban imposed on new building for type C & D ECHS PC be reviewed and cancelled....the point from higher HQ that the ban  will be reviewed and decided on case to case basis ... doesn't serve our purpose..

(6) Puchase of medicine for ECHS  .

(A)DGAFMS, SEMOs , SMOs be asked to procure medicine for ECHS from Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana where the Generic medicine are available at 30 to 40 % cheap with proper quality assurance. Outlets are available all over the country.

(B) Peace meal Buying from local market with no assurance for quality with 30 to 40% more costly should be avoided at the earliest ...

(C) All over India ECHS should look into the possibilities of buying medicine through Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana as a budget saver as well as for assured quality. 

(7) (a) Where ever only one Medical Officer is available or posted, provision for providing leave relief be looked into. Non availability of the only posted  Dr for 30 working days ie during the leave period of the only available Dr.  needs special consideration for providing leave relief either from nearby ECHS PC or by casual/ temporary appointment .

(b) same is the case with Driver, watchman etc . During  their absence due to leave,  alternate arrangements should be

made . ( The leave relief from available staff should be avoided as they are given day off on a subsequent dates and results to their absence for that many days . This causes inconvenience to patients.. supposing a only available lab assistant did the watchman duty as leave relief , he will be absent for one day that means lab will be closed for a day. Who suffers. It is one of the genuine problems for ECHS Members. Needs official arrangements for leave relief. 

(8) There are  ECHS Members who availed the ECHS Facilities and also drawn the fixed medical allowance but now a days they are not willing to avail the facility or to discontinue  with the ECHS .Action  planned for such members..be spelt out . 

(9) Proposal if any to merge ECHS with  other health scheme by GOI should be opposed and should not be accepted

With warm regards