Context:
Recently, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare launched a pilot project of the Electronic Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation (E-SeHAT) service.
More on the news
- E-SeHAT aims to provide health care services to Ex-Servicemen and their dependents through safe and structured video based clinical consultation.
- This would enable ECHS beneficiaries to have tele-consultations for medical treatment without needing to visit the ECHS Polyclinic.
- It is in line with the Tele-medicines practice guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in March 2020.
- E-SeHAT launched 12 Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics across the country on July 30, 2024.
- Seven ECHS Polyclinics were launched in Delhi NCR (Shakurbasti, Timarpur, Faridabad, Palwal, Khanpur, East Delhi and Hindon) and five in remote locations of Baramulla, Imphal, Churachandpur, Dimapur and Aizawal.
- In November of this year, E-SeHAT will be launched all over India.
- The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare announced that the SeHAT-OPD for Tri-services Teleconsultation Service, developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) Mohali has been successfully implemented in many locations.
- However, the software was not initially integrated with the ECHS database of veterans and their families.
- To ensure seamless integration, various modules of the software, such as medical records and e-prescriptions, have now been synced with the ECHS database.
- It aligns with the government’s Digital India vision by promoting digital inclusivity and efficiency in accessing public services.
Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)
- The ECHS was launched with effect from 01 Apr 2003
- Under the scheme, ex-servicemen pensioners and their dependents who were only entitled to treatment in service hospitals are now authorised to receive treatment, not only in service hospitals but also in civil/private hospitals.
- The ECHS Central Organisation is located in Delhi and functions under the Chief of Staff Committee (COSC).