THE CONDITION OF ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI

THE  STATE OF ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI

This is a Polyclinic situated in a Non Military Station in South Tamil Nadu.  This is a Type ‘C’ clinic.  This was established in the year 2004.  For the past eight years, this clinic has been running smoothly under the control of Station HQ Thiruvananthapuram.

Problems started mounting after it was taken over by INS Kattabomman. (A naval unit situated nearby)

The main problems are:-

1.      Two empaneled hospitals (Shifa Clinic and Galaxy Hospital) are refusing to admit ECHS members, because of the large amount of their bills not paid for a very long period.  The O i/c ECHS Polyclinic helpless in this regard.

2.      There is only one Medical officer, against the vacancy of four.  There is no Medical specialist (MD) for more than two years in this clinic.  Other medical officers (One Dentist and one Medical officer have resigned).  So far no action is being taken to appoint medical officers.

3.      There is acute shortage of medicine in the clinic.  Since the Station HQ INS Kattabomman is not procuring the medicine in time, funds allotted for the medicine to the tune of Rs.30 lacs have been surrendered in the past.

4.      In the absence of any empanelled hospitals in the city, the ECHS members are suffering a lot.  There is no other empanelled hospital nearby.

The situation is very bad.  The ECH Scheme administered by the Indian Army, should not let it go in this way.  The ECHS members and the Polyclinic Staff  including the O i/c ECHS Polyclinic are very much upset over the condition prevailing now.

It is requested that the Regional Centre, Chennai and the ECHS Central Organisation Delhi to take immediate action on this issue and save the ECHS members.

If the situation continues, this clinic will have to be closed without any notice.  Please save our  members and the Scheme.