How lack of facilities & refusal to admit Covid infected veterans in hospitals is killing them, both civilians and defence personnel.
Last week a 76-yr old retired Indian Airforce Wing Commander in Gurugram fell ill.
He had a history of cardiac problems.His children took him to Army Hospital Research & Referral , commonly known as R&R. After struggling for more than an hour the veteran was denied admission. Main argument was that they have orders not to entertain veterans.
The veteran IAF WgCdr was taken to Army Base Hospital , but there also the authorities refused admission. Finally,they brought him back to Gurugram and managed admission in a small private hospital. (Metro)
After 24 hours, this hospital advised he be shifted to a bigger hospital
He was transferred to Park hospital. After four days the officer passed away. Sad indeed. The question arises why are Military hospitals not entertaining veterans? Have the veterans lost the right of getting basic medical support from service hospitals and that too in emergency ?
There would be many more such cases in the coming times. It is time that Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) bring out a clear policy on this.. One can well imagine the condition of the poor jawans.
Had immediate attention been provided at R&R on the 1st day, probably one life could have been saved. Central Govt Health Scheme (CGHS) is somewhat different in their functioning.
1. CGHS is restricted to only Metros &a few more cities. For eg, Coimbatore which has sizeable Central Govt retirees does not have CGHS. However, there are enpanelled hospitals in the CGHS rates.
Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), which has a Regional Centre along with a PC, is finding it difficult to empanel good hospitals!
2. CGHS is controlled directly by the Min of Health & Fam Wel. ECHS is controlled by the (AG Br) Army.
CGHS member has direct access to AIIMS, the flag-ship of the Min of H&FW - ECHS member has no direct access to Service Hospital unless you are very Senior in rank or a Minister or the President of India!!!
3. The main difference is that the Bureaucrats running the CGHS realise that one day the are on the other side of the fence and will need CGHS - the serving officers running ECHS (mostly) think that they are perpetual in Service and will not need ECHS!!
It is sad how Wg Cdr KK Khanna was turned down by AHRR and Base for treatment. It is more depressing to know that, when he was in uniform, did countless sorties in marginal weather evacuating Army casualties to the same nearby Army hospitals!!
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