MP Captain Brijesh Chowta Urges Ministry of Defence to Streamline ECHS Claim Settlements

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Share

Mangaluru : In a matter raised under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Captain Brijesh Chowta called upon the Ministry of Defence to establish a time-bound national settlement mechanism for Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) claims. Highlighting that the ECHS relies heavily on empanelled hospitals to deliver cashless healthcare to veterans and their dependents, he pointed out that prolonged delays in reimbursement claims create working-capital pressures for medical institutions. This financial crunch often forces hospitals to limit admissions or withdraw from the scheme entirely, ultimately placing a heavy burden on elderly beneficiaries who are forced to travel longer distances, delay treatments, or pay out-of-pocket.

To overcome these operational challenges, Captain Brijesh Chowta urged the government to enforce strict, standardized timelines for initial scrutiny, medical audits, hospital query responses, final approvals, and payments. He stressed that repeated, piecemeal queries must be prohibited and suggested setting up a consolidated single-query framework. Furthermore, he advocated for an electronic dashboard to track invoice age, pending authorities, and hold reasons, along with appointing regional escalation officers to resolve claims exceeding specified outer time limits and holding officials accountable for administrative delays.

The MP also recommended that the Ministry routinely publish outstanding liabilities categorized by age bands and establish an early-warning protocol for instances where hospitals propose suspending services. Crucially, he emphasized maintaining uninterrupted cashless medical care for ex-servicemen and their families while claim reconciliation takes place. Implementing a predictable and transparent settlement process, he noted, would protect public funds, preserve hospital participation, and safeguard dependable healthcare access for the nation’s veterans.