ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI (TAMIL NADU)

ECHS POLYCLINIC: TIRUNELVELI (NON-MILITARY STATION)

When the news about the launching of a new health scheme for ex-servicemen spread in the year 2003-04, people did not believe it.

Thanks to the well organized ex-servicemen welfare association named ‘Tirunelveli District Ex-servicemen Welfare Association’, which played a vital role in creating awareness among the ex-servicemen. The Association immediately conducted meetings and released a guide book on ECHS in Tamil and also arranged to publish the scheme in a leading Tamil daily for one month.

The Station HQ. Thiruvananthapuram, arranged monthly visit to this place for enrolling members in the scheme. The Association helped a lot in filling up the ECHS application and enabled them to join the scheme without delay.

The arrival of Col.S.Victor (Retd.) as the first O i/c Polyclinic enabled the formation of the ECHS clinic smoothly. The dedication and hard work put in by Col.S.Victor can always be remembered and rewarded. An exemplary leadership and initiative taken by this well disciplined & self contended Col., during initial days enabled the blue print of the ECHS scheme into a reality.

As a matter of fact, it is a great surprise for the ex-servicemen and their families of this area to see such a fine Polyclinic of their own. The architects of this scheme will feel happy to see the reality at this place.

Lot many criticisms are being said about the scheme here and there. As a social activist, and as a well wisher of the veteran community, I feel it is my moral duty to express my opinion about the functioning of this ECHS Polyclinic at this centre, at this juncture. The success or failure of any scheme is mainly in the hands of the men who manage it. The amount of hard work, dedication & honesty put in towards any organization will always be rewarded if not immediately, but definitely one day. In that context, the o i/c Polyclinic of Tirunelveli ECHS had proved that it is the man behind who matters than anything else for the success or otherwise.

The ECHS Polyclinic at Tirunelveli is functioning efficiently. This is a ‘C’ type Polyclinic raised on 01.04.2004 with 70 members initially. As on 01.05.2009, the membership had increased to 3050 with 5924 dependents thus making a total of 8974.

The average OPD cases attended about 105 by two Medical Officers only. The Post of a Specialist Medical Officer is vacant.(MD) for some time. In the event of the non-availability of MD, additional Medical Officers may be posted.

About 300 referals are made in a month to ‘Shifa Clinic’ which is the only empanelled hospital locally for the past 5 years. Recently one more hospital named ‘Galaxy’ has been empanelled. Major referral cases are made to Chennai and Nagercoil. So far around 35 major heart surgeries, two knee replacement surgeries have been done through this clinic. Emergency dialysis cases are attended locally. Regular dialysis cases are attended at Nagercoil with 2 sessions per week for one month at a time. Seven hearing aids have been purchased at a cost of Rs.55,600 and given to the members. As the membership grows, so the payment to the empanelled hospitals also increases. The payment to the empanelled hospitals in the year 2005-06 was Rs.11 lakhs, this has increased to 46 lakhs now. By and large the patients are satisfied and they are really proud of having such a good clinic at this centre.

Procurement of medicine through DGLP is sufficient and members are satisfied. The Station HQ Thiruvananthapuram is giving all help to this clinic.

On behalf of the ex-servicemen and their families I thank the o i/c ECHS Polyclinic Tirunelveli and its staff (including the Medical Officers) and the Station HQ Thiruvananthapuram for providing good service to the ex-servicemen community and I request them to continue the same.