Government of India’s ECHS Programe

1. Introduction Of EcHS
Govt of India has extended Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Nepal for the Defence Pensioners to provide free medical treatment to the veterans and their dependants. The existing MI Rooms at Kathmandu, Pokhara and Dharan are being upgraded to provide basic medicare; and all major hospitals in Nepal are being empanelled with ECHS to provide specialized medical services. The polyclinics will have MBBS doctors, Medical Specialist, Gynaecologist, Dental Officer, Laboratory, Physiotherapy and a dispensary from where free medicines to beneficiaries will be distributed. For any kind of treatment which is not available in a polyclinic, the patient will be referred to the hospital of his choice, for which most of the major private hospitals are being approached to get empanelled with ECHS.
2. Benefits.
(a) Free allopathic treatment for self and dependants. (b) No contribution for pre 1996 retirees, Battle Casualties and war widows. Others can join by paying very less one time contribution. (c) No age limit for joining ECHS. (d) Free medicines for lifelong for all diseases. (e) All types of diseases covered. (f) Patients can get free treatment in Indian private hospitals also.
3. Contribution.
(a) For Retirees of pre 01 Jan 1996, Battle Casualties – Free and War Widows
(b) For those who retired between 01 Jan 1996 and 01 Jun 2009 :-
Uncommuted Basic Pension / Revised Pension (in INRs) Contribution
(in INR) (in NPR)
0 3,000/- 01,800/- Rs 2,882.70/-
0 3,001/- to 0 6,000/- 04,800/- Rs 7,687.20/-
0 6,001/- to 0 10,000/- 0 8,400/- Rs 13,452.60/-
010,001/- to 0 15,000/- 012,000/- Rs 19,218.00/-
015,001/- and above 018,000/- Rs 28,827.00/-
(c) For those who retired on or after 01 Jun 2009 :-
Grade pay drawn at the time of retirement (Grade Pay) Contribution
(in INR) (in NPR)
01800/- pm, 01,900/- pm, 0 2,000/- pm, 0 2,400/- pm, 0 2,800/- pm and rects drawing family pension / medical pension 0 15,000/- Rs 24,022.50/-
0 3,400/- pm and 0 4,200/- pm 0 27,000/- Rs 43,240.50/-
04,600/- pm, 0 4,800/- pm, 0 5,400/- pm and 0 6,100/- pm and 0 6,600/- pm 0 39,000/- Rs 62,458.50/-
0 7,600/- pm & above and Offrs under HAG scale 0 60,000/- Rs 96,090.00/-
4. Mode of Payment
The payment for Contribution and Smart Card charges (NRs 216.20 per card) has to be made in the form of a Bank Draft drawn in favour of ECHS Contribution Account and ECHS Smart Card Account respectively.
5. Treatment Procedure.
(a) Through Polyclinic. (i) Report to your Polyclinic (Kathmandu, Pokhara or Dharan) for free medical treatment. (ii) Polyclinic will have MBBS doctor, Medical Specialist, Gynaecologist, Dental Officer, Laboratory, Physiotherapy equipment and dispensary for free medicines. (b) At Empanelled Hospitals. (i) Report to your Polyclinic. (ii) If any treatment is not available at Polyclinic, patients will be referred to Empanelled hospitals of his choice within Nepal. (iii) No treatment charges will be paid y the patients to the empanelled hospitals. (c) Emergency : In case of emergency, patient can be taken to any hospital without taking referral from Polyclinic. Following system will be followed :- (i) In Case of Empanelled Hospital. (aa) Show ECHS Smart Card to Empanelled Hospitals at the time of admission. (ab) Empanelled Hospitals will inform ECHS Polyclinic within 48 hours. (ac) No treatment charges to be paid to Empanelled Hospitals. (ii) In Case of Non-Empanelled Hospitals. (aa) Inform your Polyclinic within 48 hours of admission. (ab) Treatment charges to be paid by the patient and further claim the same from ECHS Branch. (d) Treatment in India : In case of a disease for which treatment is not available in Nepal, patient will be referred to India for free treatment. In case of emergency in India, if treatment is taken in non empanelled hospital, you will inform nearest ECHS Polyclinic / parent polyclinic / ECHS Branch. Nearest Polyclinic will issue a Emergency Information Report (EIR) without which no reimbursement will be made by ECHS Branch.
6. Procedure to Join
ECHS forms can be obtained from ECHS Branch Kathmandu, PPOs and DSBs. Following documents need to be attached along with the application :-(a) Application in triplicate (Original application – One set complete, photostate of page No 1,2,3,4 and 14 of application – for duplicate and triplicate sets). (b) Photographs five per applicant with red background.(c) Demand Draft for Smart Cards (NRs 216.20/- per card). (d) Demand Draft for one time subscription for the retirees after 01 Jan 1996 in favour of ECHS Contribution Account, Kathmandu. (e) Affidavit only in case of parents / children to confirm the dependency (Note : Affidavit for Self and Wife is not required). In case of wife, a certificate in a format already distributed to DSBs will be attached. (f) Bankers / DPDO certificate regarding amount of pension being drawn. Fixed Medical allowance will only be seized when the Temporary Receipt is issued by ECHS Branch. (g) Blood group certificate. (h) Photocopies of the following documents :-(i) Nagrikta Praman Patra (NPP).(ii) Pension Payment Order (PPO). (iii) Pension Patta. (iv) Discharge Book.
7. Application to be submitted to
The filled application will be submitted by the veteran to his DSB, which after checking all the details will forward it to their PPO for filling up page 14. The PPO will then send the application to ROIE for verifying the personal details and if found in order, it will be sent to ECHS Branch.
8. Issue of Temporary Receipt / Smart Card : Once the application is received by ECHS Branch Kathmandu, a temporary receipt will be issued to the ESM. The free treatment can be availed on the basis of this receipt. It takes about 2 months for making ECHS Smart Card. Once card is issued, the temporary receipt has to be given back to ECHS Branch. The Smart Card will always have to be carried when treatment is to be taken under ECHS.
9. Loss of Smart Card
Individual has to submit an application giving details of lost card to ECHS Branch along with affidavit duly notarized giving full details of the card. Simultaneously, fresh application will be filled up along with all the documents required.
10. Contact Details
Any information on ECHS can be obtained from ECHS Branch, Kathmandu. The details are as under :
– ECHS Branch,
Embassy of India,
Phone : +977-1-4001569
Email: amaechs@eoiktm.org