CAG finds holes in functioning of health scheme for military veterans

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found gross irregularities and deficiencies in the functioning of the ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS), with just “test case samples” finding a leakage of around Rs 105 crore from 2012-13 to 2014-15.

The government spends around Rs 2,500 crore annually on the ECHS, which aims to provide healthcare to 47.24 lakh military veterans and their dependents on a cashless basis through a network of 426 polyclinics, military hospitals and private empanelled hospitals over the country.