New Delhi: In a major relief for ex-servicemen and their families, the Central Organisation of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has launched a home-delivery medicine service, ensuring that essential medicines reach beneficiaries who face difficulty visiting ECHS polyclinics. The pilot project, rolled out after an order issued on October 16, is being implemented in 38 polyclinics across India in the first phase.
The service aims to support veterans above 70 years of age, white card holders, and war-disabled personnel, ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines without the need for travel.
How the ECHS Home Delivery System Will Work
The new service is being executed through the Common Services Centre (CSC) scheme. Each participating polyclinic will be assigned a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE)—preferably selected from among ex-servicemen—to manage the delivery process.
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The polyclinic pharmacy will prepare and hand over medicines to the VLE.
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The Indian Postal Department will then deliver the medicines directly to the beneficiary’s home.
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Every step of the process—right from packing to delivery—will be recorded through a dedicated mobile application.
Roles of Central & Command Headquarters
The ECHS Central Organisation will oversee the entire project and conduct quarterly reviews to verify delivery performance. Payments to CSC, the postal department, and the technology partner Source Dot Com Pvt. Ltd. (SDCPL) will be based on verified delivery numbers.
Command headquarters will ensure that no polyclinic exceeds its fixed delivery limits. Station headquarters will monitor operations and send monthly reports.
Packing and Dispatch Arrangements
ECHS polyclinics have been instructed to maintain dedicated spaces and furniture for safe packaging. Pharmacies must ensure timely preparation and secure packaging of medicines before handing them over to the VLE.
Beneficiaries who qualify for the service may still opt to collect medicines directly from the polyclinic if they prefer.
Responsibilities of CSC and VLEs
CSC will train VLEs, supply packing materials, and maintain required records.
VLEs will:
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Update each package status as “Ready for Dispatch” through the mobile app
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Hand over packets to postal authorities
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Ensure safe and damage-free packaging
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Track dispatch and assist beneficiaries
The postal department will issue labels for each consignment and confirm delivery through OTP verification. All status updates will be visible to beneficiaries via the SDCPL app.
Technology Backbone Powered by SDCPL
Source Dot Com Pvt. Ltd. will provide the complete technology infrastructure for the project, including a mobile application for both Android and iOS users. The company will maintain the system with 96% quarterly uptime SLA and offer technical support to all stakeholders.
Medicines Excluded from Home Delivery
Certain categories of medicines will not be delivered under this pilot phase. These include:
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Cold-chain medicines
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Schedule H1 and Schedule X drugs
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Injections
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High-value medicines
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A total of 491 restricted medicines
If a medicine package cannot be delivered, beneficiaries must collect it from the polyclinic within 30 days.
A Step Towards Easier Access for Veterans
ECHS has urged command headquarters to encourage more ex-servicemen to register as VLEs. The overarching goal of the initiative is to ensure that medicines reach elderly, disabled, and war-wounded veterans at their doorstep—reducing the need for long and tiring visits to polyclinics.
The home-delivery initiative is expected to significantly improve the convenience and healthcare access of thousands of ex-servicemen across India.
