Policy on treatment of ECHS beneficiaries under AYUSH

Policy on treatment of ECHS beneficiaries under AYUSH: ECHS Order dated 22.09.2025

Central Organisation, ECHS
Adjutant General’s Branch
IHQ of MoD (Army)
Thimayya Marg
Near Gopinath Circle
Delhi Cantt-110010

B/49769/AG/ECHS/AYUSH Policy

dt 22 Sep 2025

IHQ of MoD (Navy)/ Dir ECHS (N)
DAV, Subroto Park
HQ Southern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Eastern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Central Command (A/ECHS)
HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS)
All Regional Centres

POLICY ON TREATMENT OF ECHS BENEFICIARIES UNDER AYUSH

A copy of Govt of India, Ministry of Defence, DoESW letter No 22D(10)/2022/WE/D(Res-l) dated 10 Sep 2025 is disseminated herewith for your info and further necessary action please.

(Rajesh Battish)
Surg Capt
Offg Dir (Med)
for MD ECHS

File No. 22D(10)/2022/WE/D(Res-I)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
(Deptt. Of Ex-Servicemen Welfare)
Sena Bhawan, New Delhi.

Dated: 10 Sept, 2025

To
The Chief of Defence Staff
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: POLICY ON TREATMENT OF ECHS BENEFICIARIES UNDER AYUSH

1. I am directed to refer to Ministry of Health & Family welfare letter NoZ 28015/01/2006-HD Cell/CGHS dated 01 Oct 2015 on AYUSH treatment and to say that, Ministry of AYUSH is mandated for the promotion and development of Ayurveda/ Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH) and to provide healthcare service through the AYUSH system. The National Health Policy 2017/ (NHP 2017) advocates integration of AYUSH system in horizontal as well as vertical manner across all the Government Health Establishments. This policy is intended to expand the system of Ayurveda among the ECHS beneficiaries for the betterment of their health through an alternate system of medicine.

2. Eligibility for Treatment

(a) All ECHS members with valid membership.

(b) Choice of Treatment. The choice to take treatment under either AYUSH or Allopathy is purely voluntary and personal. A beneficiary will have to make a choice whether he/she wishes to be treated under AYUSH or Allopathy. Treatment under both systems concurrently is not permitted for the same ailment/disease. However, in case of an emergency, the veteran is allowed to take any lifesaving treatment as deemed necessary.

3. Treatment under AYUSH will be provided through following: –

(a) All the AFMS hospitals and Cantonment Board hospitals having AYUSH clinics (only Ayurveda) List of AFMS Hospitals presently nominated for providing AYUSH treatment facilities is attached as Appendix A).

(b) All ECHS Polyclinics nominated to provide AYUSH OPD (only Ayurveda). (A list of the ECHS Polyclinics nominated to provide AYUSH treatment initially is attached as Appendix B).

(c) CGHS empanelled AYUSH Hospitals. The hospitals empanelled under CGHS will be deemed empanelled under ECHS and can be empanelled by ECHS by signing MoA with these hospitals. (A list of current CGHS empanelled AYUSH Hospitals is attached as Appendix C).

(d) All ECHS Empanelled AYUSH Hospitals.

(e) AYUSH facilities at PHC/CHC, Government dispensaries/District hospital/sub district hospital/Municipality hospital under Central/ State / Local Government where available as well as Government AYUSH hospitals and colleges and National.
Institutes of AYUSH.

4. Rules Governing AYUSH Treatment.

(a) Permission would be obtained from the treating AYUSH physician from ECHS Polyclinic, AFMS AYUSH Clinics (only Ayurveda), Govt AYUSH Hospitals, National Ayurvedic Institution, Cantonment Board Hospital and Central/State Govt Ayurvedic Centres for therapies and duration as advised. The recommendations for treatment obtained from these centres will be shown at ECHS Polyclinics where the referrals to the empanelled AYUSH Hospitals will be provided.

(b) The duration of the treatments should not exceed 34 days for Ayurveda and 28 days for Yoga and Naturopathy.

(c) “Package Rate” means rates for a package of treatment of standard set of procedures that are administered to the patient while undergoing treatment for a pre-diagnosed disease condition for the specified time period. The package rates which are specified for diagnosed diseases/ conditions indicated in Annexure “D” attached with this order should strictly be adhered. Procedures other than the package rates listed in Annexure “D” for a nonspecific disease condition which is not mentioned under package rates will be considered as per the list.

(d) This includes all charges pertaining to a particular treatment / procedure including registration charges, admission charges, accommodation Charges, cost of medicines, Panchakarma charges, Labor Room charges, charges for Kshar sutra operation/ procedure charges, Doctor/ Consultant visit charges, Monitoring charges, Operation theatre charges, procedural charges/Surgeon’s fee , cost of disposable surgical charges and cost of all sundries used during hospitalization related to routine investigations, physiotherapy charges etc. from the time of admission till discharge. This also is inclusive of all sub-procedures and related procedures to complete the treatment.

(e) Rates not promulgated by CGHS in respect of items under the head of Admission Fee, Consultation Fee, Laboratory Investigations / Diagnostic Tests/Procedures, Hospitalization Nursing Care, Transportation, Engagement of Attendants etc will be the same as prescribed for empaneled private Allopathic Hospitals under the ECHS.

(f) Re-imbursement for treatment/procedures for which prescribed rates have not been indicated by CGHS will be charged as per actual. Procedures/ Treatments given to the beneficiary outside the list will be discouraged and justification has to be given for doing outside procedures.

(g) No additional charge on account of extended period shall be allowed if that extension is due to any improperly conducted procedure.

(h) A list of packages available under AYUSH treatment and their rates as per CGHS rate will be applicable for ECHS (Current rate list attached as Appendix D).

(i) It is clarified that the procedures suffixed as per package treatment given at Appendix ‘D’ are Package Treatment and reimbursement shall be limited to package rates.

(j) Only 2-3 therapies in Single specialty would be permitted.

(k) Reimbursement for treatment/ procedures for which prescribed rates have not been indicated in Appendix ‘D’ will be charged as per actual.

(l) The prescribed rates as indicated in Appendix ‘D’ shall be valid for the period of Memorandum of Agreement required to be signed by the hospital/ Centre with the ECHS.

(m) An AYUSH Hospital/centre empanelled as above, whose rates for treatment procedures/tests are lower than the prescribed rates shall charge as per actual.

(n) Any legal liability arising out of such services, responsibility solely rests on the hospital and shall be dealt with by the empanelled hospital/diagnostic centre concerned. Services will be provided by the Hospitals/Diagnostic centres as per the terms of agreement.

(o) Ward entitlement and rates for room charges will be as prescribed earlier for ECHS beneficiaries. Room rent is applicable only for treatment procedures for which there is no prescribed package rate and will include charges for occupation of bed, diet for the patient, charges for water and electricity supply, linen charges, nursing charges and routine up-keeping. Expenses on toiletries, cosmetics, telephone bills etc. are not reimbursable and are included in rates/package rates.

(p) ECHS beneficiaries are entitled to facilities of Private, Semi-private or General ward depending on their rank/category. The entitlement is as follows:

(q) The room rent will be Rs. 1000/-, Rs. 2000/- &Rs. 3000 for General Ward, Semi private Ward and Private Ward respectively. It is clarified that indoor package rates for Yoga & Naturopathy are inclusive of room rent as per entitlement of the beneficiary.

(i) Private ward is defined as a hospital room where single patient is accommodated and which has an attached toilet (lavatory and bath). The room should have furnishings like wardrobe, dressing table, bed-side table, sofa set, carpet, etc. as well as a bed for attendant. The room has to be air-conditioned.

(ii) Semi Private ward is defined: as a hospital room where two to three patients are accommodated and which has attached toilet facilities and necessary furnishings.

(iii) General ward is defined as hall that accommodates four to ten patients.

(r) Normally treatment in higher category of accommodation than the entitled an category is not permissible. However, in case of an emergency when the entitled, category accommodation is not available, admission in the immediate higher category may- be allowed till the entitled category accommodation becomes available. However, if a particular hospital does not have the ward as per entitlement of beneficiary, then the hospital can only bill as per entitlement of the beneficiary even though the treatment was given in higher type of ward.

(s) In case of non-emergencies, the beneficiary shall have the option of availing specific treatment/investigation from any of the empanelled hospitals of his/ her choice (provided the hospital is empanelled forth at treatment procedure/ test), after the same has been advised by ECHS/ other Government Specialist/MO in-charge and permission is obtained from the OIC ECHS Polyclinic, For treatments availing by the beneficiary from empanelled list of AYUSH Hospitals from outside city other than where he is residing no TA will be reimbursed provided the treatments are available in the city of residence. 

(t) The Hospital Shall be notified as empanelled under ECHS after signing MoA, submission of PBG & letter of acceptance. All AYUSH and Yoga & Naturopathy Hospitals empanelled under CGHS and CS (MA) rules is deemed empanelled with ECHS and vide Gol Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Ministry of Defence letter No 22D (17)/2018/WE)/D(Res- 1) Dated 7t June 2022 are allowed to be empanelled with ECHS without obtaining PBG.

5. The medical stores for AYUSH treatment will be provided as under: –

(a) The AYUSH doctor and pharmacist of ECHS Polyclinic will be responsible for generating demands, receipt, quality checks and dispensing of medicines.

(b) Initially for the first year AYUSH medicines shall be procured with a ceiling limit of Rs 3,00,000 (Rupees Three lakh only) per polyclinic per year. It will be ensured that the total cost of inventory held will not cross Rs 3,00,000 /- for the first year. Hence only those medicines will be procured which have to be replenished upto ceiling limit of Rs 3,00,000/. Subsequently after first year, demand for medicines shall be forwarded to the SEMO based on past consumption arrived at after calculating the Monthly Maintenance Figures based on monthly average of prescribed medicines over a period of 12 months.

(c) Overall responsibility for provision of medicines to ECHS beneficiaries will be that of the Office of DGAFMS who will allot the budget to the SEMOs under whom the polyclinics with AYUSH clinics will be functioning. SEMOs will be responsible for procurement. of Ayurvedic medicines only directly from IMPCL a public sector undertaking and will issue the same to the polyclinics.

(d) AYUSH medicines prescribed in Cantonment Board Hospitals will be taken from the hospital. Medicines prescribed at the CGHS as well as ECHS Empaneled Hospitals will be purchased by the beneficiaries and will be reimbursed as per rates of procurement of medicines through IMPCL. If the medicines are not available in the IMPCL list it will be reimbursed as per actuals.

(e) Accounting and disposal of these medicines will be as per the existing policies for accounting of medicines in ECHS. The OIC ECHS Polyclinics will be responsible for accounting of medicines.

6. General Administrative Issues

(a) AYUSH staff will be under the administrative control of the Station Commander. The AYUSH staff in the polyclinic will report to the OIC Polyclinic for day-to-day functions.

(b) Legal liability for the treatment offered and effects thereof will lie with the treating AYUSH doctor. In case of alleged malpractice, misappropriation, negligence or legal issue arising either on account of treatment or incorrect dispensing of drugs by the AYUSH doctor or pharmacist, the direct or vicarious responsibility will be that of the treating doctor or the pharmacist as the case may be. The same will be indemnified through an appropriate document at the time of appointment.

(c) AYUSH staff will not prescribe or dispense allopathic medicines.

(d) AYUSH staff may order investigations from polyclinic lab or X-Ray. Any investigation prescribed from civil facilities will be undertaken after obtaining referral from the ECHS polyclinic. Referral will be issued only for those investigations that are not available in the ECHS polyclinic.

(e) If beneficiary chooses to be treated in Hospital/ Government facility of AYUSH in a city away from his place of residence, permission/ approval may be given but the cost of travel, lodging and boarding will be borne by the beneficiary.

7. Processing of bills.

The processing of claims by the hospitals and individual beneficiaries will be as per the procedures in vogue for allopathic hospitals/treatment.

(a) The treatment in ECHS polyclinic, AFMS Hospitals, will be cashless and will be provided medicines at ECHS polyclinics or AFMS Hospital. The empaneled AYUSH hospital will provide cashless treatment and will be reimbursed as per CGHS rates.

(b) Bills would be processed as per CGHS rates.

(c) Referral from ECHS polyclinic is essential for treatment in empaneled AYUSH facilities with a certificate to show that they will only take treatment in one medical system. Prior permission from Regional Centre, ECHS is mandatory to obtain treatment from a non-empanelled AYUSH Hospital to be eligible to claim reimbursement of expenditure incurred for consultation /treatment / procedures/ investigation /medicines under AYUSH System of medicines. The claims will be passed as per CGHS rates only.

(d) Claims are to be preferred within 3 months period from the date of obtaining treatment or discharge from hospitals, whichever is later.

8. The cost of medicines will be reimbursed as per IMPCL rates after proper scrutiny and verifications of the prescriptions and bills by the bill pr CCL list. Agency. Cost of all medicines is reimbursable in full if not available in the IMPCL List.  Preparations classified as food, tonics, vitamins, disinfectants, toiletries etc will not be reimbursed.

9, Geo-Tagging (Digital mapping with GIS- geographic information system) shall be implemented whereby photographs with geo-tagging of the patients is taken om day to day basis. For payment, it is essential to submit these geo-tagged photographic details during the submission of bills on the BPA portal and submission of bills offline as well.

10. Adoption of CGHS Policies. ECHS will adopt the CGHS policies and instructions issued from time to time including the changes in rates, treatment procedures, authorization of additional AYUSH treatments/procedures and introduction of medicines.

11. This letter supersedes Gol/MoD letter No. 22B(06)/2017/WE/D(Res-1) dated 08thAugust, 2018.

12. This issues with the concurrence of MoD (Finance/Pension) vide I.D. Note No  32(10)/2018/FIN/PEN dated 271 June 2025.

Yours faithfully

(L. Fimate)
Under Secretary to the Government of India