New Delhi: The Department of Posts has launched a dedicated service to pick up, book, transport, and deliver medicines to the homes of ECHS beneficiaries across India, officials said on Friday.

The initiative, launched in collaboration with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), aims to ensure the timely delivery of medicines that are unavailable at ECHS polyclinics. Under the system, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) operating Common Service Centres (CSCs) stationed at ECHS polyclinics will handle the procurement and packaging of medicines, while India Post will manage the logistics and delivery.

Initially piloted in Delhi on 31 July, the service received a strong response and was soon expanded to cover parts of the NCR, including Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Encouraged by the success of the pilot, where over 1,700 packets of medicines were delivered, India Post has now completed a nationwide mapping of 458 ECHS locations.

The service became operational across India from 17 October, the statement confirmed. The Department of Posts said the collaboration will ensure ex-servicemen and their dependents receive medicines promptly and reliably, strengthening healthcare support for the veteran community.

The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), under the Ministry of Defence, provides healthcare facilities to retired armed forces personnel and their dependents. However, shortages at some ECHS polyclinics have caused delays in medicine distribution.

To address this, the Department of Posts partnered with DESW and the CSC network to establish a streamlined delivery mechanism. Each ECHS polyclinic is now connected with a CSC, enabling efficient coordination between procurement and last-mile delivery.

The postal department’s expansive delivery infrastructure will be used to transport medicines from distribution points to beneficiaries’ homes. India Post said the service would also enhance accessibility for veterans living in remote or rural areas.

Officials noted that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader goal of integrating postal and digital services to support welfare schemes, particularly for ex-servicemen and their families.
(With PTI outputs)