HERE IS A CASE OF DENIEL OF ADMISSION OF PATIENT IN ECHS EMPANELLED HOSPITAL. -AN EMERGRNCY CASE.

HERE IS A CASE OF NON ADMISSION  OF PATIENT –

 IN  EMPANELED HOSPITAL- EMERGENCY  CASE.

Subject: [BIGGER FAMILY] ECHS LATEST ORDERS ON REFERRALS

Last week one retired Wg Cdr (76 years old ) in Gurugram fell ill. He had the history of cardiac problems.His children took him to RR. After struggling for more than an hour children failed to convince the authorities and The veteran was denied admission. Main argument was that they have orders no to entertain veterans.
Lo and behold they proceeded to BHDC. Same story over there too. Authorities refused to look at the veteran patient.
Finally, they brought him back to Gurugram and managed admission in a small private hospital. (Metro).
After twenty four hours, this hospital advised that he be shifted to a bigger hospital. He was transferred to Park hospital. After four days the officer passed away. Sad indeed.
The question arises why are our service hospital not entertaining veterans?
Have the veterans lost the basic right of getting basic medical support from service hospitals and that too in emergency ?
There would be many more such cases in the coming times. It is time that a clearly spelt out policy in this regard be spelt out by DGAFMS. Also giving alternate sources of medical treatment centers. One can well imagine if a similar treatment is meted out to poor jawans.
Heart breaking. And an avoidable situation. Had the immediate attention been provided at RR on the very first day, probably one life could have been saved.

Yes, CGHS is the elder of the two. However, they are somewhat different in their functioning.
1. CGHS is restricted with only on the Metros and a few more cities. For eg, Coimbatore which has a sizeable Central Govt retirees does not have CGHS. However, there are empaneled hospitals in the CGHS rates. ECHS, which has a Regional Center here along with a PC, is finding it difficult to empanel good hospitals!
2. CGHS is controlled directly by the Min of Health & Fam Wel. ECHS is controlled by the (AG Br) Army. CGHS member has directly access to AIIMS, the flag-ship of the Min of H&FW - ECHS member has no direct access to Service Hospital (unless you are very Senior in rank or a Minister or the President!!).
3. The main difference is that the Bureaucrats running the CGHS  realise that one day they are on the other side of the fence and will need CGHS - the serving officers running ECHS (mostly) think that they are perpetual in Service and will not need ECHS!!
It is sad about Wg Cdr KK Khanna being turned down by AHRR and BHDC for treatment. It is more depressing to know that, when he was in uniform, did countless sorties in marginal weather evacuating Army casualties to the same nearby Army hospitals!! Lord Jesus last words were "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!". The same is with any Service Doctor who turned down a Veteran.

Warm Regards,
S O I   : Veterans India  group.