Amit Tyagi, son of an ex-serviceman posted this on his timeline. According to him, he has forced to pay for the medicines although he was eligible for a free service under ECHS. He also alleges that actions of the hospital staffs put the life of his father in danger.

“My father is an ex-serviceman & his medical is covered under ECHS. His treatment has to be cashless at all ECHS affiliated hospitals. My father was diagnosed with high Urea & Creatinine in Roorkee on 24th May 2016. I called him here in Ghaziabad & on 25th May, we admitted him to Aarogya hospital, Vaishali, which is in close proximity to our house. The doctors informed that my father had suffered acute kidney failure & if the situation persists, he might need dialysis. I contacted all the doctors known to me, including Dr. Sudhir Tyagi, Surgeon at Yashoda hospital Kaushambi, who happens to be from our village Faloda in district Muzaffarnagar. Dr. Tyagi insisted that I shift my father to Yashoda as it has better infrastructure, Doctors & facilities. On his advice, we shifted my father to Yashoda on 26th May morning. After initial tests, he was shifted to ICU from emergency.

After two hours, I was given a list of things that I have to procure from Pharmacy. I was told that as per the policy of hospital, some disposable items are not covered under ECHS & we have to pay for them. I brought the items listed, from Pharmacy & handed over in ICU. In another hour, I was given a second list of items, which again I procured from Pharmacy & handed over.

Next morning, we visited my father in ICU during visiting hours. After which I was told that he may need to be put a central line, to monitor his body fluids. They gave me another list of items to be bought from Pharmacy, which costed me close to 6500/- INR. I bought the items & gave to ICU attendants. We then returned back home. In the afternoon, I received a call from the hospital informing that my father needs to be given an injection which is not covered under ECHS. I asked them the cost & they informed it’s around 4000 INR. I told them to give the injection & I shall pay for it. Meanwhile, I called to Wing Commander Panwar in ECHS Hindon, Ghaziabad & asked if there is any such list of medicines which is not covered by ECHS. He informed me that I need not pay a single penny & my father’s treatment has to be cashless. Whatever the claims of the hospital would be, have to be settled by the hospital with ECHS offices. Then I went to hospitals in the afternoon & spoke to Dr. Vikram, who heads the Panel department at Yashoda hospital. He gave me reasons that ECHS doesn’t reimburse for few items & hence I have to pay for them. When I told him about my discussion with Wing Commander Panwar, he agreed that as per ECHS policy the patient has to be treated cashless, but also said that they are there to make profits & hence would not be willing to take up losses due to denial of payment by ECHS for some items. By the end of the discussion, he assured me that henceforth I would not be asked to buy things, other than few exceptional items. I left the hospital after paying for the injection & his assurance. In evening & next day morning, we visited my father in ICU during visiting time & we were told that his situation is improving. In all, I had paid more than 12900/- Rs by this time.

In the evening, we again visited the hospital during meeting hours of ICU. I was told by the doctors that my father may need dialysis as his Urine output has decreased considerably. The ICU staff gave me a list of items I need to buy for Dialysis, which estimated around 16,000/- INR. I informed them about my discussion with Dr. Vikram. They tried to contact Dr. Vikram on the phone but he was in a meeting. They then contacted Mr. Jai Prakash in the management department. Mr. JP (as the staff was calling him) went to see Dr. Vikram & on returning informed that I need not buy the items required for Dialysis. However, in another hour, I was called again & was asked to buy those items again. I then went to meet Dr. Vikram who insisted that I should buy at least those items. I had to call Wing Commander Panwar again who also spoke to Dr. Vikram on my phone. After their conversation, Dr. Vikram told me to that they are willing to discount me INR 5000/-. Frustrated by this harassment, finally, I had to call Major General Bam, MD, ECHS, informing him about the situation. Major General Bam was very kind to take my call & he politely but categorically told me that I need not spend any money & the hospital must treat my father on the cashless basis. He said that if hospital creates any issue I should make them speak to him. When I went back to inform Dr. Vikram about the same, he was very annoyed at me & told that I should not threaten him. I humbly submitted that I was not threatening him but was only informing him about what I spoke. In the end, Dr. Vikram told the Dialysis technician to get the items on their own. My father went for…