Grievances/Complaint Resolution System, ECHS

  ECHS was established wef 01 Apr 2003 and providing comprehensive medical care to ESM and their dependents through polyclinics and empanelled hospitals. Central Organisation ECHS is Central HQ at Delhi and Regional Centres are est all over India for co-ordination and functioning of the Scheme. Being not a stand alone scheme, the Comd & Control is channelized through various Stn HQ/ Sub Area HQ / Area HQ / Comd HQ / Army HQ and DGAFMS.
Like all other schemes and orgs, the Scheme is also having some shortcomings and the beneficiaries are facing problems.
Our attention is, therefore, focused on the grievances redressal mechanism to alleviate the rising problems by forming a Grievance Cell at Central Organisation.ECHS by employing a retd Army Medical Officer (rank of Col) who has been associated with ECHS in various appointments like Director (Medical), Commanding OfficerMilitary Hospital and Senior Executive Medical Officer (SEMO) at Central Organisation ECHS under Director (Complaints & Legal) to look into the grievances and monitorredressals and assist the functionaries of Central Org ECHS in resolving the issues raised by the beneficiaries

Types of Complaints/ Grievances . Following types of complaints/ grievances are generally received :

(a) Against the Functionaries.
(i) OIC ECHS Polyclinics.
(ii) OIC ECHS Cell, Station Headquarters.
(iii) Staff of ECHS Polyclinics.
(iv) Doctor at ECHS Polyclinics.
(v) Referring to a particular Hospital.
(vi) Denial of Treatment by ECHS Polyclinics.
(viii) Ill treatment by ECHS Polyclinics.

(b) Eligibility and ECHS Card. 
(i) Eligibility for ECHS Membership in respect of Non Defence personnel.
(ii) Eligibility of Ex-Recruits for ECHS.
(iii) Eligiblity of World War II veterans/SSCOs/ECOs for ECHS members.
(iv) Upgradation/Renewal/Change of Cards.
(v) Status for application of ECHS membership cards.

(c) Medicine/ Claims. 
(i) Non availability of Medicine at ECHS Polyclinics.
(ii) Non issue of medicines for 3 months.
(iii) Issue of medicines for 7 to 8 months for persons going abroad.
(iv) Shortage of life saving medicines.
(v) Reimbursement of Med claims.
(vi) Emergency treatment in Empanelled/ Non Empanelled/ Govt Hospitals.

(d) Against Empanelled Hospitals.
(i) Negligence by Hospitals.
(ii) Denial of Treatment by Empanelled Hospitals.

(e) General Complaints. 
(i) Refund of Contributions.
(ii) Shortage of doctors.
(iii) Opening of additional ECHS Polyclinics.
(iv) Improvement in ECHS Polyclinics.
(v) Extension of contractual employment.
(vi) Referral procedure lengthy.
(vii) Treatment Abroad

Manner of Receipt of Grievances/ Complaints.
(a) Through personal visits by veterans or their representatives.
(b) Through Toll Free No 1800-114-115.
(c) Through CPGRAMS.
(d) Through E-mails at  dymdechs-mod@nic.in and all functionaries listed at the website www.echs.gov.in
(e) Through higher HQ/MoD.
(f) Through normal mail.

Methodology Adopted to Resolve.
(a) Personal interaction immediately resolving the issues raised.
(b) For queries where instant reply cannot be given, views and clarification are sought from different sections and then the reply is communicated to the indl by tele, e-mail and by letter wherever required.
(c) Issues pertaining to any clarification/ action by Regional Centre ECHS, Stn HQ and Command HQs are communicated to them and action is ensured.
(d) Any issues requiring clarification from MoD also sought and action taken communicated to the indl.
(e) Issues some times raised- pertains to different/ various section- views/ recommendations sought on file for approval of MD/ MoD. In the meantime interim reply is given to the indl. Once finalized then communication is made through tele/ fax/ letters to the indl.
Measures Undertaken to Further Improve theRedressal Mechanism.
(a) Toll free No 1800-114-115 which is at present being functional at Central Organization HQ planned to extend to all Regional Centres. Beneficiaries of respective Regional Centres can call to Director Regional Centre ECHS/ Jt Dir (Med) Regional Centre ECHS and clarify their queries/ process their grievances which will enable them in getting a faster service.
(b) Some FAQs pertaining to various ECHS aspects are being formulated and streamlined at Central Organisation and same will be fwd to Regional Centres ECHS so that uniformity will be maintained in making reply to the ECHS beneficiaries PAN INDIA by Dir Regional Centres ECHS.

Clientele satisfaction will always be our motto. Our constant endeavours will be on to redress the grievances of ECHS beneficiaries and every functionary will take it as a contributory responsibility to resolve the issues raised.

Name of  Offrs,Appt,Contact No.

Col (Retd) D Mohapatra, OIC Grievances Cell
9818289728

Lt Col Rohit Johar, Jt Dir (C&L)
9899044983

Col BS Gangwar, Dir (C&L)
011-25684946 ,8588836337

Brig Nawnit Kumar, SM, Dy MD ECHS
011-25683719,9999781809

Maj Gen J George,MD ECHS
011-25684846 ,8527794678

I have my own doubts about efficiency of prompt action to improve the quality of redresses of problems due to the following reasons:-

There is no doubt that over the period the ECHS has expanded well and helped in providing better health care to ESMS.  Although there was budget crunch last year, system was functioning to some extent. This year there is an indirect budget crunch by introducing financial control over the LP of medicine.  In Bangalore first quarter has gone without purchasing/doing any LP of medicine.  ESMS are at a loss as they do not know what is going wrong. Non availability of empanelled hosps at major stns, withdrawl of empanelled hosp due to non payment of bills etc.  Pts raised has no response from HQ ECHS at Delhi.

with regards

Col. Srikantha
President TSEWA, Karnataka & Goa
Bangalore
9886987997