Overview

• In an August 29 order, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare approved ECHS facilities for officer cadets invalidated from training on medical grounds attributable to or aggravated by military training.
• Eligible cadets will receive free outpatient care at ECHS polyclinics and cashless, capless inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic services at empanelled hospitals.
• The one-time subscription fee of Rs 1.2 lakh normally charged to ex-servicemen officers is waived, and the benefit is limited to the individual cadet.
• The sanction is a special one-time dispensation addressed to the service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff, with access contingent on application, compliance with scheme rules and no enrollment in another government health scheme.
• Authorities acted after the court noted about 500 affected cadets; the group does not have ex-servicemen status and has been receiving only ex gratia support.