A fresh ECHS advisory dated 10 August 2026 has addressed an important problem being faced by some ex-servicemen and their dependants during hospital treatment.
Regional Centre ECHS, Visakhapatnam has stated that instances have come to notice where empanelled hospitals were retaining the original ECHS Smart Cards of beneficiaries during hospitalisation and, in some cases, even after discharge.
The advisory makes the position clear:
An ECHS Smart Card is the personal property of the beneficiary. An empanelled hospital may verify it when required, but the original card should be returned immediately after verification.
The direction is particularly relevant for ECHS beneficiaries who may otherwise believe that surrendering their original Smart Card for the entire hospital stay is a compulsory procedure.
Important: The letter has been issued by Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam for Healthcare Organisations under its Area of Responsibility (AOR). It should therefore be reported as a Visakhapatnam Regional Centre advisory and not automatically described as a fresh nationwide ECHS order.
Why was this ECHS advisory issued?
According to the letter, the competent authorities noticed that some ECHS empanelled hospitals were keeping beneficiaries’ Smart Cards during hospitalisation.
More concerningly, the advisory says that in several cases cards were allegedly being retained even after the patient had been discharged.
This prompted Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam to issue a clear instruction to Healthcare Organisations under its jurisdiction.
The purpose is simple: hospitals may need to authenticate the beneficiary, but verification does not give the hospital the right to keep the original ECHS card.
Can an empanelled hospital check your ECHS Smart Card?
Yes.
The advisory does not prevent hospitals from verifying the card.
An empanelled hospital may check:
- authenticity of the ECHS Smart Card;
- beneficiary details;
- identity at the time of admission; or
- beneficiary information during treatment whenever verification is required.
But once that verification is completed, the original card must be returned to the beneficiary immediately.
This is the most important distinction in the advisory:
Verification is allowed. Retention is not.
Is the ECHS Smart Card the hospital’s property during admission?
No.
The letter specifically describes the ECHS Smart Card as the personal property of the beneficiary.
That point is important because many patients or family members may hand over the card at the admission counter believing that the hospital is entitled to keep it until discharge.
The latest Visakhapatnam advisory says otherwise.
Even where the hospital needs the card for verification, the original card is to be handed back after the verification process.
What happens after discharge?
The advisory is particularly strict regarding retention after discharge.
It states that keeping a beneficiary’s ECHS card after discharge is neither justifiable nor acceptable.
Therefore, completion of:
- discharge formalities;
- billing;
- documentation;
- claim-related procedures; or
- other administrative work
should not require the hospital to withhold the beneficiary’s original ECHS Smart Card.
The advisory covers other identity documents too
One of the most useful points in the letter is that the direction is not limited only to the ECHS Smart Card.
The advisory says empanelled hospitals should ensure that no ECHS card or any other identity document is retained either during hospitalisation or after discharge.
That means the issue being addressed is broader than a single card.
The principle is that the hospital may carry out necessary verification, but original beneficiary identity documents should not be withheld as part of routine administrative procedures.
What has been instructed to empanelled hospitals?
The advisory asks all concerned Healthcare Organisations (HCOs) under the Regional Centre’s AOR to ensure strict compliance.
Hospitals have been asked to:
- inform relevant hospital staff;
- stop retaining ECHS beneficiary cards;
- complete administrative processes without withholding originals; and
- ensure that the instruction is followed consistently.
This is important because the letter is not merely an awareness note for beneficiaries. It specifically asks HCOs to disseminate the instruction among concerned hospital staff.
ECHS Polyclinics have also been given a role
The copy section of the letter is also significant.
All ECHS Polyclinics under the Regional Centre’s AOR have been asked to sensitise ex-servicemen beneficiaries about the advisory.
They have also been requested to display the contents of the letter at Polyclinics for wider publicity.
This suggests that ECHS wants beneficiaries themselves to know about the issue instead of relying only on hospital administrators to implement the direction.
What should an ECHS beneficiary understand before hospital admission?
The practical takeaway is straightforward.
When visiting an ECHS empanelled hospital within the concerned Regional Centre’s jurisdiction:
Your Smart Card may be verified, but verification does not mean that the hospital needs to keep the original card throughout your admission.
A beneficiary should understand these four points:
- The ECHS Smart Card remains the beneficiary’s personal property.
- Hospital staff can verify the card when required.
- The original card should be returned after verification.
- Hospital administrative formalities should not depend on withholding the original card.
This awareness is particularly useful for elderly veterans, widows and dependants who may hesitate to question hospital procedures.
- ECHS Official Website — Central Organisation ECHS
Useful as the principal official ECHS portal, including Smart Card services and beneficiary information.
Open ECHS Official Website - ECHS — Official Regional Centre Directory
This is useful for establishing the Regional Centre structure, including Visakhapatnam Regional Centre and official contact information.
Open ECHS Regional Centre Directory - Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare — About ECHS
Official Ministry of Defence page explaining ECHS, its beneficiary network, Polyclinics and empanelled hospitals.
Open DESW — About ECHS - DESW — ECHS Grievance Redressal
Very useful for your readers if an ECHS beneficiary faces a problem with an empanelled hospital or another ECHS service.
Open ECHS Grievance Redressal - DESW — Official ECHS Circulars
Official Ministry of Defence repository for ECHS circulars and policy documents.
Open Official ECHS Circulars - ECHS — Official Policy / Smart Card Documents
Useful for additional Smart Card policies and ECHS beneficiary-related instructions.
Open ECHS Policy Documents
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