New Delhi: Lieutenant General Rajesh Sethi, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, visited the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic at Shakurbasti to review its functioning and assess the healthcare facilities being provided to veterans and other eligible beneficiaries.
During the visit, Lt Gen Rajesh Sethi reviewed the overall functioning of the polyclinic, with particular attention to the delivery of healthcare services and the experience of ECHS beneficiaries seeking medical assistance.
The General Officer interacted with the staff members of the polyclinic and gained an understanding of their day-to-day functioning, responsibilities and efforts to provide medical services to the ex-servicemen community.
Lt Gen Sethi commended the staff for their dedication and commitment towards serving veterans and their dependants. He emphasised that healthcare facilities under ECHS must remain efficient, responsive and focused on the requirements of beneficiaries.
The visit highlighted the importance the Indian Army continues to place on the welfare of its veterans and their families, particularly in ensuring access to dependable healthcare after retirement from active military service.
ECHS is a healthcare programme designed to provide medical services to eligible Armed Forces veterans and their dependants through a nationwide network of polyclinics and empanelled healthcare facilities. The system serves a large community of retired military personnel and their eligible family members across the country.
Polyclinics such as the facility at Shakurbasti act as an important first point of medical contact for beneficiaries. They provide outpatient healthcare and facilitate further treatment or referrals when specialised medical attention is required.
For elderly veterans in particular, efficient functioning of local ECHS facilities is important because many beneficiaries require regular consultations, medicines, diagnostic services and continued management of age-related medical requirements.
The emphasis on beneficiary-focused healthcare during Lt Gen Sethi’s visit reflects the need to ensure that veterans receive timely assistance and that administrative processes do not become an obstacle to accessing medical care.
Interaction between senior Army leadership and polyclinic staff also provides an opportunity to understand challenges faced at the ground level and assess areas where service delivery can be further strengthened.
The Armed Forces’ responsibility towards personnel extends beyond their years in uniform, with veteran welfare remaining an important part of the military support system. Healthcare through ECHS is one of the most significant components of this post-retirement support structure.
Lt Gen Rajesh Sethi’s visit to the Shakurbasti ECHS Polyclinic reinforced the importance of maintaining high standards of healthcare delivery and ensuring that veterans and their dependants remain at the centre of the system.
By recognising the efforts of healthcare staff while stressing efficiency, responsiveness and beneficiary-focused services, the visit underscored the continuing commitment towards providing quality medical support to those who have served the nation and their families.
