Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam has issued an important advisory directing all empanelled hospitals not to retain the original ECHS Smart Card of beneficiaries during hospitalisation or after discharge. The advisory, dated 10 August 2026, states that the ECHS Smart Card is the personal property of the beneficiary and must be returned immediately after verification.
The instruction is particularly important for Ex-Servicemen, ECHS beneficiaries and their dependants, as some empanelled hospitals were reportedly retaining ECHS Smart Cards during treatment and, in certain cases, even after the beneficiary had been discharged.
ECHS Smart Card Retention Advisory 2026
The advisory has been issued by Regional Centre ECHS (V), Visakhapatnam, under reference RCV/4307/Med dated 10 August 2026.
It has been addressed to all Health Care Organisations (HCOs) under the Area of Responsibility (AOR) and calls for strict compliance by empanelled hospitals.
Key instruction
The ECHS authorities have made it clear that:
An ECHS Smart Card must not be retained by an empanelled hospital under any circumstances.
Hospitals may use the card for verification of the beneficiary’s identity, authenticity of the card and beneficiary details. However, the original card must be returned to the beneficiary immediately after verification.
Why Was the ECHS Advisory Issued?
According to the letter, competent authorities noticed that some empanelled hospitals were retaining ECHS Smart Cards during hospitalisation and, in several cases, continuing to keep the cards even after the beneficiary had been discharged.
The Regional Centre ECHS has therefore instructed hospitals to ensure that beneficiaries are not deprived of their original ECHS cards.
This is important because the ECHS Smart Card is used by beneficiaries to access healthcare facilities under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
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ECHS Smart Card Is Personal Property of the Beneficiary
The advisory specifically states that the ECHS Smart Card is the personal property of the beneficiary.
An empanelled hospital is therefore not authorised to keep the original card as a routine part of its admission or discharge procedure.
Hospitals can verify:
- Authenticity of the ECHS Smart Card
- Identity of the beneficiary
- Beneficiary details
- Other information required during admission or treatment
However, after completing the required verification, the original ECHS Smart Card must be handed back to the beneficiary immediately.
Hospitals Cannot Keep ECHS Card After Discharge
One of the most important points in the advisory is that retention of the ECHS Smart Card after the beneficiary’s discharge is neither justified nor acceptable.
This means an ECHS beneficiary should not be asked to leave the original Smart Card with the hospital after completing treatment.
Hospitals have also been instructed not to retain the ECHS card merely to complete administrative formalities.
Administrative Formalities Must Be Completed Without Withholding the Card
The advisory directs empanelled hospitals to complete all necessary administrative procedures without withholding the beneficiary’s original ECHS card.
This provides an important clarification for ECHS beneficiaries who may be asked to deposit their Smart Card at the time of admission.
What Should ECHS Beneficiaries Do?
ECHS beneficiaries and their dependants should be aware of this instruction.
If an empanelled hospital needs the ECHS Smart Card for verification, the beneficiary can provide it for the required verification process. However, according to the advisory, the original card should be returned immediately after verification.
Beneficiaries should therefore:
- Carry their ECHS Smart Card when visiting an empanelled hospital.
- Allow the hospital to verify the card and beneficiary details.
- Ensure that the original card is returned after verification.
- Check that the card is returned before leaving the hospital after discharge.
- Avoid leaving the original ECHS Smart Card with hospital staff for routine administrative purposes.
Advisory Circulated to ECHS Hospitals and Polyclinics
The Regional Centre ECHS has also directed all HCOs under the AOR to disseminate the advisory among concerned hospital staff.
The purpose is to ensure that hospital personnel are aware of the instructions and follow them strictly.
The letter has also been circulated to all Station Headquarters under the AOR for information.
Instructions to ECHS Polyclinics
All Polyclinics under the AOR have been requested to:
- Sensitise ESM beneficiaries regarding the advisory.
- Display the contents of the letter at the Polyclinics.
- Give the advisory wide publicity among beneficiaries.
This indicates that ECHS authorities want beneficiaries to be aware of their rights regarding possession of their Smart Cards.
Important Message for Ex-Servicemen and Dependants
The advisory is especially relevant to Ex-Servicemen (ESM), pensioners and ECHS beneficiaries and their eligible dependants who use empanelled hospitals for treatment.
The key point is simple:
An empanelled hospital may verify an ECHS Smart Card, but it should not retain the original card.
Beneficiaries should ensure that their original ECHS Smart Card is returned after verification and, in particular, before they leave the hospital following discharge.
ECHS Smart Card Retention: Key Points at a Glance
| Issue | ECHS Instruction |
| ECHS Smart Card ownership | Personal property of the beneficiary |
| Can hospital verify the card? | Yes |
| Can hospital retain original card for verification? | No, it must be returned immediately after verification |
| Can hospital keep card after discharge? | No |
| Can administrative formalities justify withholding the card? | No |
| Who must comply? | Empanelled hospitals/HCOs |
| Advisory date | 10 August 2026 |
| Issuing authority | Regional Centre ECHS (V), Visakhapatnam |
Conclusion
The 10 August 2026 ECHS advisory from Regional Centre ECHS Visakhapatnam provides an important clarification for Ex-Servicemen and their families. Empanelled hospitals may verify ECHS Smart Cards and beneficiary details, but the original ECHS Smart Card remains the beneficiary’s personal property and should not be retained by the hospital.
Beneficiaries should remain aware of this instruction and ensure that their original ECHS Smart Card is returned after verification and certainly after discharge.
For ECHS beneficiaries, the message is clear: hospitals can verify your ECHS Smart Card, but they should not keep the original card.