New Delhi, Jan 2 (.) The Congress party launched a nationwide “Save ECHS” campaign, alleging that the Modi government is deliberately weakening the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) by starving it of funds and administrative support. The party on Friday claims that the scheme, which provides medical facilities to ex-servicemen, is facing a crisis due to a shortage of funds, inadequate infrastructure, and staff constraints.
Addressing mediapersons here, Colonel (Retired) Rohit Chaudhry, Chairman of the Congress party’s Ex-servicemen Department, warned that if Rs 14,000 crore is not released for ECHS by January 30, ex-servicemen will launch a major agitation in Delhi.
“The Modi government has failed to provide adequate funds to ECHS, resulting in pending medical bills of over 20 lakh ex-servicemen, with outstanding dues exceeding Rs 9,000 crore,” Chaudhry said.
The Congress alleges that the scheme required Rs 13,500 crore in 2023-24, but received only Rs 9,831 crore, despite an existing backlog of Rs 3,500 crore. The backlog has risen to Rs 5,400 crore in 2024-25 and is expected to touch Rs 6,000 crore in the current financial year, forcing several empanelled hospitals to refuse treatment to ex-servicemen.
“The ECHS scheme was launched in 2003 as a ‘Cashless and Capless’ scheme, but is now facing a crisis due to a shortage of funds, inadequate infrastructure, and staff constraints. In its present form, it is neither a cashless nor a capless scheme, forcing beneficiaries to spend huge sums on treatment and medicine from their pocket and subsequently claim reimbursement, which is capped and doesn’t get paid for months,” Chaudhry said.
The Congress has demanded that ECHS be brought under the Chief of Defence Staff, restoration of its administrative powers, immediate clearance of all pending bills, and release of Rs 14,000 crore to make the scheme viable and sustainable. The party also seeks legislation mandating hospitals that received land at concessional rates to provide treatment to ex-servicemen on priority.
. SKA SAS PRP