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| Army ECHS Polyclinic Nagrota Gujroo neglected | | |  Early Times Report
Udhampur, Nov 17 : A delegation of ex-servicemen met Army authorities at Station Headquarters Udhampur to highlight the suffering of Army veterans and widows of remote area of Basohli, Billawar and Majalta Tehsils. Army Ex-servicemen Contributory Healthcare Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic at Nagrota Gujroo, Dhar – Udhampur Road was established By Ministry of Defence has been almost abandoned by Army authorities. There is no Officer and Doctor. Service of the Medical officer was suddenly terminated and new doctor has not been employed since two months. Army Helpline which was assisting Veterans & widows has been closed. Old ESM patients have to travel to Jammu or Udhampur, covering a distance of 70 km. Large number of Ex-servicemen are also agitating in this area as their legitimate healthcare facility is denied even when they have paid ECHS membership contribution which varies from Fifteen to Sixty thousands rupees depending upon the rank of ESM.
According to Adjutant Branch Army Headquarters News Letter, new Polyclinics are sanctioned to a population of 1500 ex-servicemen living in area with a view to reduce travelling distance for Veterans and Veer Naries to nearest Healthcare facility. This is only Polyclinic in J&K State which is in civil area and nearest Army units is located at a distance of 50 Km, whereas as all other Polyclinics are located within Army areas . This ECHS facility was sanctioned by Ministry of Defence to alleviate hardship to more than 2500 ESM and their 8000 Dependants living in 1200 Sq Km remote hilly areas of Kathua & Udhampur Districts. Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme started in 2003, therefore most of those pre-1996 retiree who made ECHS Cards over 8 years periods from 2003 to 2011 residing in dependency area of this polyclinic were not registered here. They only come to the polyclinic as and when they fall sick or they need to apply for new cards. Moreover, some of the facilities authorised to this Polyclinic like Dental Chair and Blood testing Lab are yet to be functional at this place.
This Healthcare facility was functioning much better till present neglect started two month back due to operational control problem as this polyclinic is on the boundery of Northern and Western Army Commands. OPD strength of this Polyclinic at Nagrota Gujroo is much more than any other new Polyclinics in Army Northern Command although it is located in Remote Area. As per ECHS Regional Centre Jammu, daily annual average OPD at ECHS Polyclinic Nagrota Gujroo is Daily 20 patients whereas it is 15 for Doda, 10 for Leh and 5 for Poonch Polyclinics, which are located in District Headquarters. Ex-servicemen living in Tehsil Billawar are happy that Army Units located at Kathua are contacting all Veterans & Widows under Project MILAP, which will enable them to make ECHS Cards. However, ESM of Tehsil Majalta are being neglected. An Army Help Line which was being run by Station Headquarters Udhampur was suddenly closed on 01 Nov 14. It should be a matter of concern that only 18 Widows Pensioners are able to avail this ECHS facility out of 795 registered with Sainik welfare Organisation in this area. There is also a need to provide all authorised equipment and medical facilities to this Polyclinic like Dental Chair, X Ray Machine and Blood testing Lab which will enable more Veterans to make use of this facility instead of travelling to Polyclinics at Jammu/ Udhampur. Veterans of this area has also sent an appeal to Dr Jatinder Singh, Minister of State in PMO to improve Healthcare facilities for ex-servicemen as he happen to be Member of Parliament elected from this area.
Today delegation of ESM under the aegis of J&K ESM League also sent a memorandum of their demands to Northern Army Commander. Leader of the delegation also mentioned that Colonel of the JAK RIF Regiment Lt General Sandeep Singh has also written to the Army Commander regarding difficulties being faced by them and requested for an early action to improve the health facility for ex-servicemen. |
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