THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Army has sanctioned 12 more Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics in the state including a second one here as part of enhancing welfare measures for retired personnel. This will take the total number of ECHS Polyclinics in Kerala to 23, Army officials said. Thiruvananthapuram aside, polyclinics will come up at Kanhangad, Kottarakkara, Kalpetta, Kilimanoor, Iritti, Kunnamkulam, Muvattupuzha, Changanassery, Ranni, Kottayam and Perinthalmanna. In Kanhangad, the Army has identified 30 cents of land and in Perinthalmanna and Kottayam, 50 and 35 cents respectively. ‘’In Thiruvananthapuram, we already have a clinic at the Pangode Military Station, but we need a second one here, preferably nearby the Medical College. The State Government has agreed to give 35 cents at Pattom,’’ Major General Y Chacko Tharakan, Major General Administration, Southern Army Command, said. The polyclinics offer multiple benefits to ex-servicemen, their children and parents. The clinics have doctors, dentists, paramedics and other trained personnel, and facilities to address minor ailments. They also have empanelled hospitals - both government and private - where the patients are attended to for all major health problems. The state has close to 1.6 lakh ex-servicemen, 40,000 widows of military personnel and two lakh serving personnel. Lt Gen A K Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, attending Monday’s Civil-Military Liaison Conference here, observed that military veterans in Kerala were fully aware of the advantages of polyclinics and were making full use of them. According to the Army, establishing polyclinics in towns are comparatively easier owing to the proximity of good hospitals. But the Army is now targeting interior areas of the state, Maj General Chacko Tharakan said. The Army is also planning to provide CSD Canteen facilities alongside the clinics, he said.
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