REVISED GUIDELINES FOR REFERRAL PROCESS IN ECHS

 Referral process in ECHS – Revised Guidelines vide ECHS Order 02 Sep, 2024

Central Organisation ECHS
Adjutant Generals Branch
Integrated Headquarters
Ministry of Defence (Army)
Thimayya Marg
Near Gopinath Circle
Delhi Cantt -110010

B/49769/AG/ECHS

02 Sep 2024

IHQ of MoD (Navy)/Dir ECHS (N)
DAV, Subroto Park
HQ Southern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Eastern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Central Command (A/ECHS)
HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS)
All Regional Centres

REVISED GUIDELINES FOR REFERRAL PROCESS IN ECHS

1. Please refer followings:-

(a) MoD DoESW letter No 22D(06)/2019/WE/D(Res) dated 03 Feb 2020.
(b) GOlMoHFWOMZ15025/18/2020/dir/cghs dt 09 Oct 2020.
(c) GOI MoHFW OM 215025/19/2024/DIR/CGHS/EHS(Comp No. 8281286) 1/3687286/2024 dt 28 Jun 2024.
(d) MoD DoESW letter No 22D(06)/2019/WE/D(Res-i) dated 30 Aug 2024.

2. In line with partial modification in referral system by CGHS related guidelines for referral procedures for Consultation, Investigation and Treatment in Government and Private Hospitals (empanelled with ECHS) under ECHS are as per details given below.

3. Treatment at Private Empanelled Hospital.

(a) Single Referral for Specialist Consultation. A referral issued by any Medical Officer of an ECHS Polyclinic will be valid for 3 months. During this period the beneficiary may consult two more specialists i.e. up to total of three Specialists, if recommended by the primary specialist. A maximum 6 consultations shall be allowed during this validity period of 3 months.

(b) Investigation and Treatment Procedures Advised by Specialist of Empanelled Private Hospital After Referral by ECHS. — No further referral from ECHS PC shall be required for undergoing routine listed investigations and minor procedures, not requiring admission in the hospital as advised by the specialist, within the validity period of 3 months from the date of issue of the initial referral. However, Referral from ECHS PC shall be required for special investigations like CT Scan, MRI Scan, PET Scan and any other investigation costing over Rs. 3,000/- and the referral will be valid for 3 months.

(c) Correspondingly, referral would be required from Medical Officer of ECHS PC for any procedure requiring admission in the hospital which would be valid for 3 months.

(d) In partial modification of para 3 of letter under ref 1.(a) the special provision for ECHS beneficiaries to avail Consultation/ investigations/ treatment procedures shall hereinafter apply to ECHS beneficiaries aged 70 years and above as against 75 years.

4. Treatment at Government Hospital (s). (a) The term “Government hospital” would include all AIIMSs, Institutions of National Importance (INIS), North East Institutions, Tata Memorial Hospital and all other medical institutions under Central and State government. (b) No referral or permission shall be required for undergoing consultation investigation/ treatment procedure including unlisted investigations/ procedures.

5. In case of of treatment under emergency and post operative follow up treatment the instructions remain the same as per extant rules.

6. This has the approval of MD ECHS.

(AC Nishil)
Col
Dir (Med)
For MD ECHS

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