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Polyclinics for ex-servicemen need specialists

Official says these centres were not set up to provide specialised medical services.

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Polyclinics for ex-defence personnel under the ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS) are facing a unique problem.

These medical centres started initially only for providing primary health services to ex-serviceman has a dearth of specialists. Unprecedented response and demand for speciality services from clients are now posing a problem for defence medical services.

Insiders say that ex-servicemen have been complaining of having to run from pillar to post for medical services due to shortage of specialists at polyclinics.

“The doctors employed in ECHS polyclinics are not army doctors, but have been hired by the ECHS body. These doctors are meant for primary care and not specialised services. When an ex-serviceman requiring specialised services visits polyclinics, he is referred to a military hospital. The military hospitals are already packed and the person is then referred to a private empanelled hospital. Lack of a single window service and multiple referrals that ex-servicemen have to go through are the reasons for the demand of specialists at ECHS polyclinics,” said a senior defence officer.

He also said that an ex-serviceman needs to get referral from military hospital citing lack of space or facilities before approaching empanelled hospitals.

Armed Forces Medical Services director general, Lt Gen H Kakaria, who was in Pune on Wednesday, admitted that ECHS polyclinics do not have specialists.

“Over the years, we have realised that there is an unexpected rush at polyclinics of ex-servicemen and their families. So, we have decided to fill the shortfall of specialists. From now on we will ensure that every doctor passing out of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) will be a specialist and not a plain doctor,” he said.

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