New Delhi/Srinagar, Dec 6 (UNI) In its endeavour to make available quality medicare to its veterans and their families, the Indian Army’s Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) wing has reached Kashmir valley by empanelling Srinagar’s Noora Hospital in the scheme.
Noora is the first hospital to be added in the scheme.
The development would be beneficial for retired armed forces personnel living in the remote areas and regions where empanelled medical facilities are inadequate or non-existent.
As of now, over 2,000 hospitals are empanelled across the country. Empanelling of hospitals with ECHS will be a continuous process wherein the hospitals apply to ECHS through Regional Centers (RCs) with specified documents.
In the recently conducted Smart City Mission (SCM), the endeavour has been to take ECHS benefits to the remote areas and those regions where empanelled medical facilities are inadequate or non-existent.
The health schemes are also being provided to ex-servicemen living in Nepal. So far, ten hospitals have been empanelled into ECHS and one more is expected to be added soon.
Meanwhile, the SCM has also approved 123 hospitals. Out of the 123 empanelled facilities, 68 are hospitals, 27 eye centers, 12 dental clinics and 16 Labs/Imaging/Diagnostic centers.
The scheme was started in 2003 with an aim to provide comprehensive health care to all ESM and their families on cashless basis.

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