SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Communications | Department of Posts (DoP) | Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW) | Common Service Centre (CSC)
The Ministry of Communications reported that the Department of Posts (DoP), in collaboration with the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW), has launched a dedicated national service for the doorstep delivery of specialized medicines to Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries. The service covers medicines not readily available at ECHS polyclinics, utilizing Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) Common Service Centres (CSC) for procurement and packaging at the polyclinics.
India Post manages the logistics and secure delivery through its trusted network, ensuring medicines reach beneficiaries efficiently across the country. The successful pilot in Delhi, which delivered over 1700 packets, led to the comprehensive mapping of 458 ECHS locations and a nationwide rollout starting October 17, 2025.
This initiative successfully integrates the vast postal infrastructure with healthcare service delivery, leveraging CSC technology to solve the “last mile” connectivity problem for defense veterans and enhancing the efficiency and reach of social welfare schemes.
What is the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)? → It is a non-profit, government-funded initiative established for the provision of comprehensive, cashless medical treatment to military veterans and their dependents. It operates through a national network of polyclinics and referral hospitals, aiming to ensure dignity and reliable healthcare access for ex-servicemen and reaffirming the nation’s commitment to their welfare.
What is the Common Service Centre (CSC)?→ The Common Service Centre (CSC) is a foundational e-governance service delivery mechanism established by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, to bring essential public and social welfare services to rural and remote areas. It acts as an access point for citizens, typically managed by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), providing services such as digital banking, Aadhaar enrollment, utility bill payments, and, in the context of the ECHS scheme, acting as a reliable point for collecting and packaging medicines before they enter the postal logistics network.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the DoP utilize the ECHS logistics model to expand doorstep delivery of essential government services to other vulnerable groups like senior citizens?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2180262