These guides explain how the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme works in everyday terms — from getting your medicines to renewing your Smart Card and understanding referrals. They are a free resource for the veteran community. Army Medicine Supplier is an independent licensed pharmacy and is not part of ECHS; for official scheme information always refer to echs.gov.in.
How ECHS beneficiaries order medicines online
The full prescription-to-doorstep process: upload, pharmacist verification, quote approval, up to 40% discount and free cash-on-delivery.
ECHS Smart Card — application & renewal
Documents, the online application on echs.gov.in, adding dependents, lost-card replacement and common problems.
ECHS referral process explained
From polyclinic to empanelled hospital — how referrals work, their validity, emergency rules and what to carry.
ECHS medicine not available? What to do
Non-availability notes, local purchase, reimbursement claims, doctor-approved substitutes and home-delivery backup.
ECHS vs CGHS — key differences
Eligibility, administering ministry, contributions and facilities compared side by side for veterans and pensioners.
What is ECHS? The scheme explained
Eligibility, polyclinics and empanelled hospitals, the smart card, contributions and how members get their medicines.
ECHS medicine reimbursement: process & documents
Claiming reimbursement when a medicine is 'NA' — the documents you need (prescription, NA endorsement, GST bill) and how to avoid delays.
ECHS card types & the 64 KB smart card
The chip-based smart card, individual cards for each beneficiary, and what to do if it's lost or expired.
Empanelled hospital vs ECHS polyclinic
Which is your first stop, how referrals work, where you get medicines, and when cashless treatment applies.
Which medicines are covered under ECHS?
How the entitlement works — the approved formulary, generic-first dispensing, non-formulary medicines and NA items.
Find your ECHS polyclinic
Looking for the address or contact number of a specific polyclinic? Browse the ECHS polyclinic directory covering Regional Centres Lucknow and Bareilly.