Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 17: In a major step towards improving healthcare access for veterans, the Department of Posts (DoP) has rolled out a dedicated medicine delivery service for ex-servicemen under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), the Ministry of Communications announced on Friday.
Launched in partnership with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), the initiative ensures pickup, packaging, and doorstep delivery of medicines that are unavailable at ECHS polyclinics. The aim is to bridge medicine supply gaps for ECHS beneficiaries, particularly in remote areas.
Under the system:
• Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) from Common Service Centres (CSCs), stationed at ECHS polyclinics, will procure and package the medicines.
• India Post will handle the logistics and nationwide delivery, leveraging its vast and reliable postal network.
The service was initially piloted in Delhi on July 31, expanded to NCR including parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and saw promising results with over 1,700 medicine packets delivered. Following its success, the initiative has now been scaled nationwide from October 17, covering all 458 mapped ECHS locations across the country.
The Ministry emphasised that this collaboration underlines India Post’s growing role in nation-building and citizen-centric services, extending beyond traditional mail delivery.
“This initiative is a testament to the Department of Posts’ commitment to using its network for public welfare,” the Ministry said, highlighting how the service ensures timely, secure, and reliable access to critical healthcare for veterans.
Meanwhile, the DoP is also focusing on sustainability, having signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Packaging in September to explore eco-friendly alternatives for postal packaging — including materials that are cost-effective, lightweight, and shockproof.
Together, these developments mark a shift in India Post’s role — from a traditional mail carrier to a modern logistics and public service provider catering to citizen welfare and environmental responsibility.