New Delhi, June 17: Army has embarked on an ambitious plan to provide comprehensive medical care to ex-servicemen and their dependents residing even in the remotest areas, army officials said here today. "Under the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), the army aims to provide quality medical care to ex-servicemen and their dependents. The figure of ex-servicemen and their dependents stands at about one crore," adjutant general A Natarajan told reporters.

Comprehensive and quality medical care for all diseases and to all ex-servicemen pensioners and their dependents, would be provided through a network of 227 polyclinics and empanelled civil hospitals across the country, he said. The army would upgrade 104 existing military hospitals with latest equipment’s and construct 123 new polyclinics based on the density of ex-servicemen in various regions, he said.

"Apart from 227 polyclinics the army would also empanel civil hospitals in areas where requisite military hospital facilities do not exist," he said.

"The scheme, compulsory for the soldiers retiring after April 1, 2003 is, however, voluntary for those ex-servicemen who retired on or before March 31, 2003," Natarajan said. Bureau Report