ECHS MEDICINES ISSUE

The harassment of ECHS users wrt the
> policy on Three Months issue of medicine vs one month,
> changed over recently, has caused us deep concern.
> While the 'establishment's' reasoning of
> 'ethical issues' and logistics etc is understood, it
> needs to be appreciated that in healthcare (primarily a
> service industry), aspects of 'client satisfaction and
> ease' need to be paramount. It is in this that the
> 'regimentation' system, essential in service life,
> needs to make way in the 'second innings' -veterans
> in need of an empathetic assistance for healthcare, even at
> the cost of adjusting procedures.
>
> Two illustrative cases of the immense pain and
> inconvenience to veterans, are attached herein. It needs to
> be pointed out that these refer to SENIOR officer veterans
> living in metros. One shudders to think how bad
> the situation would be for 98% veteran population
> living in isolated rural areas; particularly for semi
> literate, aging JCO/ OR veterans!!
>
> There are many others. I got a call from Col Narainan
> in Chennai, close to 90 years of age, helplessly complaining
> of how difficult it is to go 25 Km to the ECHS Polyclinic,
> to get medicine. AND spending MORE on transport than the
> cost of medicine !! If it were 90 days issue, it would
> perhaps mean cost effectiveness, AND less journeys,
> difficult to undertake at his age. To top it up, one cant
> delegate collections to even the spouse. So he and his 80
> year old wife,both chronically sick/ ill, trudge to the
> Polyclinic every month !! SAD you will agree.
>
> This case must be forcefully taken up with ECHS HQ for
> onward projection and resolution. If processes need to be
> changed, so be it. BUT Patient interests NEED to BE PARAMOUN
> T.
> A rethink on this, and reversion to the old system
> is required. Who else can an ex serviceman look to for
> support than his erstwhile comrades in arms?
> Retirement in any case, is a future reality for ALL
> current crop of serving soldiers.............and in
> attending to these issues, we can only have a win win
> situation.--
> With Warm Regards,
> Col RP Chaturvedi,
>
> Coordinator.
> IESM ECHS Division
> Mob: +919891279035