A fresh advisory issued by Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam on 10 August 2026 has clarified an important issue concerning the retention of ECHS Smart Cards by empanelled hospitals.
According to the advisory, instances had come to the notice of the competent authorities where some empanelled hospitals were keeping beneficiaries’ original ECHS Smart Cards during hospitalization and, in some cases, even after discharge.
The Regional Centre has clearly instructed hospitals under its Area of Responsibility that the original ECHS Smart Card should not be retained by the hospital.
What does the ECHS advisory say?
The letter, bearing reference RCV/4307/Med, states that the ECHS Smart Card is the personal property of the beneficiary.
An empanelled hospital may check:
- authenticity of the ECHS Smart Card;
- beneficiary details;
- card details at the time of admission; or
- details during treatment whenever verification is required.
However, once the verification is completed, the original card must be returned immediately to the beneficiary.
The advisory states that the card should not be retained by the hospital under any circumstances covered by this instruction.
Can an ECHS hospital keep the Smart Card during hospitalization?
According to this advisory, no.
The hospital may use the original card for verification, but the beneficiary should receive it back immediately after the verification process.
The letter specifically addresses the practice of keeping cards throughout hospitalization and instructs empanelled hospitals under the concerned AOR to stop it.
What about the ECHS card after discharge?
The advisory is particularly clear on this point.
It states that retention of an ECHS Smart Card after the beneficiary has been discharged is neither justifiable nor acceptable.
Therefore, an empanelled hospital should not keep the original Smart Card pending administrative formalities after discharge.
Can hospitals retain other original identity documents?
The letter goes beyond the ECHS Smart Card.
It instructs empanelled hospitals to ensure that no ECHS card or other identity document is retained either during hospitalization or after discharge.
Administrative formalities are to be completed without withholding the beneficiary’s original card or identity document.
What should an ECHS beneficiary do at admission?
The process should remain simple.
1. Present the original ECHS Smart Card
Provide the card when the hospital requires beneficiary verification.
2. Allow verification
The hospital can confirm the authenticity of the card and beneficiary details.
3. Collect the original card back
Once verification is completed, the original Smart Card should be returned.
4. Keep the original card with you
The advisory does not support retaining the original card as part of routine hospitalization formalities.
What if an empanelled hospital does not return the card?
If a hospital under the concerned AOR continues to retain the original ECHS Smart Card, the beneficiary can first request its return and refer to the Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam advisory dated 10 August 2026.
The letter has also been circulated to:
- All HCOs under the AOR
- All Station Headquarters under the AOR
- All Polyclinics under the AOR
The polyclinics have specifically been requested to sensitise Ex-Servicemen beneficiaries and display the contents of the advisory for wider awareness.
Does this advisory apply to every ECHS hospital in India?
This point needs to be understood correctly.
The document has been issued by Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam and is addressed to HCOs under its Area of Responsibility.
Therefore, this document should not be described as a new nationwide Central Organisation ECHS order unless a separate all-India instruction is issued or confirmed.
The factual position established by this document is:
Empanelled hospitals under Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam’s AOR have been instructed not to retain beneficiaries’ original ECHS Smart Cards or identity documents.
Quick fact check
| Question | Position |
|---|---|
| Advisory date | 10 August 2026 |
| Issued by | Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam |
| Can hospital verify ECHS Smart Card? | Yes |
| Can it retain the original after verification? | No, under this advisory |
| Can card be retained during hospitalization? | No |
| Can it be retained after discharge? | No |
| Can other original identity documents be retained? | No |
| Are polyclinics asked to inform ESM beneficiaries? | Yes |
| Is this document itself a nationwide Central ECHS order? | No |
Final takeaway
The ECHS Smart Card advisory dated 10 August 2026 provides an important clarification for beneficiaries receiving treatment at empanelled hospitals under Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam.
The hospital can verify the Smart Card and beneficiary details, but:
The original ECHS Smart Card must be returned immediately after verification.
It should not be retained during hospitalization, after discharge, or for completing routine administrative formalities. The same instruction also covers other original identity documents.
For ECHS beneficiaries, the practical rule is simple:
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