THE PERFORMANCE OF ECHS POLYCLINIC, TIRUNELVELI.

ABOUT ECHS POLYCLINIC TIRUNELVELI (NON MILITARY STATION)

Col.S.Victor, O i/c & the Architect of this Clinic

A sincere nursing by Ex.Hav.Sankaran, an asset to this clinic.

Lab.Tech.Ms.Pricilla, taking blood sample

Dr.S.Lakshmi, checking a patient

Xray Tech.Mr.S.Eswaran, a most trusted worker of the Clinic.

Dentist Dr.Maj.Nagamani on work.

Dr.M.Sornam, a sincere & lovable Medical Officer, an asset to this clinic

Pharmacist Smt.S.Thiruvadi Selvi busy in the Pharmacy.

Patients waiting

Very useful notice boards - one should read

A valuable information on medicine

A notice board that all esm. should read

Very essential notice boards

Captain S.Venkatraman, Stn.Commander (Right) visit to this clinic.

 

ECHS POLYCLINIC: TIRUNELVELI (NON MILITARY STATION)

This Polyclinic was established on 01.04.2004. as Type ‘C’ clinic.  The estimated ex-servicemen population of this District is around 7000.  At present there are 3602 Primary Members with 6987 Family members constituting a total of 10,587.  According to the estimated population of Esm. still more than 50% of pre 01.04.2003 ex-servicemen have not joined this scheme.  There are many reasons for not joining.  We will analyze it later.  Now let us see what this polyclinic had done to these ex-servicemen for the last 7 years.

The purpose of this article is to give a feedback to the readers as well as to the controlling authorities about its performance in a typical Non Military station.

In continuation of our Blog Post dt.16.05.2009 regarding this clinic, we are happy to report that there has been a tremendous progress in the scheme in terms of enrolment of new members, empanelment of hospitals, provision of medicines through DGLP and through Local Purchase,  improvement in the Clinic and General Administration of the clinic etc.

Of course there are some bottlenecks in the smooth functioning.  Delay in payment of bills to the empanelled hospitals.  Shortage of some specific medicines which cannot be purchased through the limited Local Purchase Funds (Rs.30,000 per month). Non availability of a Medical Specialist. Non availability of ECHS staff for Pharmacy and Data entry operation are some of the problems faced by this clinic.

Some of the main issues:-

EMPANELLED HOSPITALS

At present only two Hospitals in the city are empanelled to ECHS.  They are Shifa Hospitals and Galaxy Hospitals.  These two hospitals are authorized to provide very minimum facility only.  Off late these two hospitals are not happy with the ECHs as their bills amounting to Rs.45 Lacs (Shifa Hospitals) and Rs.27 Lacs (Galaxy Hospitals) are pending for a long time.  (We all know that delay breeds corruption and this paralyses the entire system if not checked in time)  The delay in payment of their bills has reached such an extent that they want to come out of ECHS empanelment.  For the ECHS members, these two hospitals gives a great relief in emergency treatment.  It is therefore essential that these two hospitals are retained in our scheme as there is no other alternative hospitals available at this non military station.  It is therefore requested that their pending bills may cleared at the earliest by all concerned.

MEDICAL SPECIALIST

A Polyclinic catering for more than 11,000 members, does not have a Medical Specialist for the last two years.  This causes great concern.  Daily out of 100 OP cases more than 10 to 15 cases are referred to Empanelled Hospitals, just because there is no Medical Specialist.  This causes undue increase in the budgetary expenses of ECHS and more inconvenience to the members.  Once it is found that there is no Medical Specialist is coming forward to join this clinic, some alternative ways and means are to be found out to appoint a Medical Specialist.  This clinic cannot be allowed to run without a Med. Specialist for ever.  Some flexible approach may be adopted to appoint a Medical Specialist immediately.  Appointment of a Med. Specialist is very important in the interest of ECHs as well as members.  Necessary action may be taken at the earliest.

 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE CLINIC

The general administration of the Clinic is excellent.  Most of the members are satisfied with the services of this Clinic.  The Officer i/c Polyclinic Col.S.Victor (Retd.) is managing this clinic for the last 7 years in a very efficient manner.  There are no words to express our appreciation on the excellent work done by this Colonel.  The Station HQ Trivandrum was kind enough to provide various ancillary facilities to this clinic such as provisioning of seating arrangement, drinking water facilities, TV and other facilities from their Welfare Funds.  They also provided a Data Entry Operator, one clerk, one Pharmacist and a Chowkidar by paying from the welfare funds of the Station HQ Trivandrum.

Now for various administrative reasons, the Command and Control of this Polyclinic has been changed from Army (Station HQ /Trivandrum) to Navy (INS Kattabomman) w.e.f. 01.07.2011.  There was some teething trouble due to the changeover.  The monthly salaries of all the employees of this clinic was delayed more 5 months and supply of medicines was also disturbed during this change over.  This situation was managed by the O i/c Polyclinic very smoothly.  It is reported with great concern that while the salaries of ECHS staff has been regularized, but the salaries of the  regimental staff has not been regularized so far. Similarly, the supply of medicines also has not been regularized so far.  These two issues are to be sorted out by the Station HQ INS Kattabomman immediately.

PERFORMANCE OF THIS CLINIC

The chart below will show you how this clinic has been improving its performance in terms of increasing membership and treatment for major illness ever since it’s inception i.e. from 01.04.2004.

Year	Total ECHS Members	OPD	Referral to Emp Hosp.
2004	580	831	45
2005	1368	8547	878
2006	2439	14062	1688
2007	6773	20167	2299
2008	8621	27084	2685
2009	9578	29148	3597
2010	10091	31266	3892
2011 (upto Nov)	10509	29860	3648

IMPORTANT SURGERIES DONE

Caronary Artery Byepass Graft (CABG) :                               92

Angioplasty ..  ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          15

Pace maker ..   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..            5

Cataract..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          600+

Joint Knee replacement ..        ..          ..          ..          ..          12

It is roughly estimated that around 2.04 crores would have been spent only for the above treatments. It is a clear indicator that the clinic has performed well during the last 7 years.

SUPPLY OF MEDICINES

There is some problem in the supply of medicines to this clinic from DGLP after changing over the command to INS Kattabomman.  It appears that the Station HQ Thiruvananthapuram abruptly wants to hand over everything to INS Kattabomman.  It is not correct.  Army command being large, and very well experienced with the administration of the ECHS, they should guide the INS Kattabomman in day to day affairs and also arrange to supply the required medicines as it had done earlier.  We hope the Station HQ Thiruvanandapuram will do all for the efficient functioning of this ECHS even though it had been handed over to INS Kattabomman.

STAFF OF ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI

The Medical Officers Smt.Dr.S.Lakshmi, MBBS DGO and Shri Dr.M.Sornam and Dr.Major.Nagamani (Dentist) are providing excellent care to the members.  All the members are satisfied with the treatment given by these medical officers.  Similarly the para medical staff Lab Tech. Smt.Pricilla, Xray Technician Shri S.Eswaren, Nursing Asst.Ex.Hav.Sankaran, Pharmacist Smt.S.Thiruvadi Selvi and the Clerk Shri M.Arockia Raj all form a very good team to run this clinic in an efficient manner.

We approached the Officer i/c ECHS Polyclinic for writing a report on ECHS.  He immediately gave a kind hearing and provided these information.  Fortunately that was the day of a surprise visit of the Station Commander INS Kattabomman Captain.S.Venkatraman.  Our Exwel Trust Team had an opportunity to meet the Station Commander and discuss with him on various issues.  He was kind enough to promise to do the needful at the earliest.

We are happy to publish few photographs taken at ECHS Polyclinic, Tirunelveli.

What we have forecasted in our previous Post on 16.05.2009

 

“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.”