ECHS Benefits To Be Extended To Officer Cadet Medically Invalidated Caused By Training: MoD

A recent letter from the ex-servicemen welfare wing of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was formally issued to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This letter pertains to granting medical benefits under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to officer cadets who were invalidated from training due to medical reasons caused or aggravated by the military training itself. Now, these cadets will get healthcare benefits under ECHS, which includes out-patient department (OPD) service, in-patient department (IPD) service, ECHS polyclinic, and cashless treatment at the ECHS empanelled hospitals.

These cadets will not be required to pay a one-time subscription fee, which is Rs 1.20 lakh for joining the ECHS scheme and availing of the medical benefits. However, the letters clarify that extension of ECHS benefits to cadets should not be considered a precedent. It is only a special dispensation, which came after the Supreme Court's suo moto cognizance of the medical issues of military officer cadets after they were discharged from the academy.

The Court took cognizance of the matter and asked a response from the defence forces and the government about the matter. Per media report, the Court, comprising a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan, also asked the central government to explore ways to ensure such cadets' medical well-being by providing them insurance for death and disability. It also asked to explore ways to provide an ex gratia amount to such cadets to meet their medical expenses and work out a scheme to rehabilitate them in defence service-related work, where they can fit in, for instance, desk jobs.

Now, this letter has been issued in response to the Supreme Court's intervention and direction in the matter.

While ECHS extension to medically invalidated officer cadets is a welcome move, particularly for those with disability, these benefits are restricted to the invalidated cadet. Per a Times of India report, which cites a cadet, the benefit is extended only to the cadet, and not to their families, unlike usual ECHS beneficiaries, and the disparity remains.

Notably, the matter is with the Court, and the next hearing is due on September 4, 2025.