Getting discharged from a hospital should be a smooth and stress-free process. But for many ECHS beneficiaries it becomes a confusing and sometimes costly experience. Bills appear with unexpected charges. Medical records are not provided. Feedback forms are hurriedly pushed in front of a tired patient. Medicines are handed over without explanation.
All of this is avoidable. The ECHS SOP April 2026 has very clear and specific rules about what must happen at the time of discharge. The hospital has obligations. The patient has rights. Knowing both makes the discharge process exactly what it should be — simple, complete, and fair.
This article explains every discharge rule under ECHS from start to finish. All facts are strictly from ECHS SOP April 2026.
Discharge Summary — Must Be Ready Before You Leave
The first and most basic rule is this — the empanelled hospital must prepare a complete discharge summary before the patient is discharged. The patient must not be made to wait for this document.
The discharge summary is your complete medical record of the hospital stay — diagnosis, treatment given, procedures performed, medicines prescribed, and follow-up instructions. It is your right to receive this before you leave.
Full Copy of Medical Records — Free of Charge
Every ECHS patient has the right to receive one complete copy of all medical records at the time of discharge. This includes —
All laboratory reports, X-rays, CT scans, MRI films, and CD or DVD copies of imaging studies.
The hospital provides all of this completely free of charge. No fee can be charged for giving these records to the patient at discharge.
You also have the right to scrutinise your hospital bill before discharge. Do not leave the hospital without reviewing your bill carefully. Check every line item. If something appears incorrect or seems to be a charge for an item already covered under your package, question it before signing.
Geo-Tagged Photograph at Discharge
The hospital is required to take a geo-tagged photograph of the patient at the bedside at the time of discharge. This is a mandatory requirement.
The timestamp on the geo-tagged photograph must match the discharge timing mentioned in the medical records and discharge slip. This photograph is submitted along with the medical documents for processing of the hospital’s online medical claim to ECHS.
Seven Days of Medicines at Discharge
On discharge the hospital must provide the patient with medicines for continuity of treatment. The rules are —
Seven days of medicines not exceeding Rs 2,000 in total value must be provided at discharge.
Only essential medicines in generic form for continuity of treatment are to be issued. The hospital cannot include nutritional supplements, tonics, cough syrups, vitamins, or injections in the discharge medicine package. Non-drug items, equipment, and appliances are also not to be issued.
Feedback Form — Mandatory Before Discharge
Feedback from the patient or their attendant is compulsory before discharge. This is not optional. It is a mandatory part of the hospital’s medical claim to ECHS. Without patient feedback the claim processing is incomplete.
The patient should be encouraged to fill the feedback form honestly and diligently. It must be filled at the time of discharge only — not before and not after. The hospital must ensure this is done before the patient leaves.
Free Post-Discharge Follow-Up for Major Surgeries
For patients who have undergone major surgeries, the hospital must provide free consultation for up to seven days after discharge. This post-discharge follow-up is included in the package rate. The hospital cannot charge separately for these follow-up consultations within the seven-day post-discharge period.
Extension of Stay — When the Package Period is Not Enough
Sometimes a patient needs to stay longer than the standard package period covers. In such cases the empanelled hospital must seek online approval from ECHS authorities for extension of stay. This request must be supported by relevant medical records and proper justification.
For the extension period the additional reimbursement is limited to —
Accommodation charges as per entitlement, investigation charges at approved rates, doctor visit charges for not more than two specialist visits per day, and cost of medicines for the additional stay.
One important rule — no additional charge is allowed for extended stay if the extension is caused by an infection resulting from a surgical procedure or due to any improper or unjustifiable procedure by the hospital. If the hospital caused the complication the hospital bears the cost of the extended stay.
All requests for extension of stay must be accompanied by a fresh bedside geo-tagged photograph of the patient in PDF format.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving the hospital without reviewing your bill — always check every charge before discharge.
Not collecting your complete medical records and imaging CDs at discharge — these are free and it is your right.
Not filling the feedback form properly — fill it honestly at discharge, it protects future patients too.
Not knowing that post-discharge follow-up for seven days after major surgery is free and included in the package.
Accepting vitamins or supplements in the discharge medicine package without knowing they are not permitted.
Not knowing that if the hospital caused a complication resulting in extended stay they cannot charge for that extra period.
Conclusion
Discharge under ECHS is a process with clear rules and strong patient protections. Discharge summary ready before you leave, full medical records free of charge, review your bill, geo-tagged photograph, seven days of generic medicines up to Rs 2,000, compulsory feedback, and free seven-day follow-up after major surgery.
Know these rights, exercise them at every discharge, and never leave a hospital without everything you are entitled to receive. A proper discharge is the final step of good treatment — and ECHS ensures that step is fully protected for every defence veteran and their family.
READ ALSO: ECHS HOSPITAL RULES
FAQs
Q1. What must a hospital provide to an ECHS patient at the time of discharge?
At discharge the hospital must provide a complete discharge summary, one full copy of all medical records including lab reports X-rays and imaging CDs free of charge, seven days of essential generic medicines not exceeding Rs 2,000, a completed feedback form, and a geo-tagged bedside photograph of the patient. The patient must also have the opportunity to review the hospital bill before leaving.
Q2. Can a hospital charge for providing medical records and imaging CDs at discharge?
No. Providing the patient with one complete copy of all medical records including discharge summary, lab reports, X-ray films, CT or MRI films, and CD or DVD copies of imaging studies is part of the treatment rates under ECHS. No fee of any kind can be charged for giving these documents to the patient at the time of discharge.
Q3. What medicines does a patient receive at discharge under ECHS?
On discharge the hospital provides seven days of essential generic medicines not exceeding Rs 2,000 in total value for continuity of treatment. Nutritional supplements, tonics, cough syrups, vitamins, injections, and non-drug items are not included. Only medicines directly related to the ongoing treatment received during admission are permitted in the discharge package.
Q4. Is the patient feedback form at discharge compulsory under ECHS?
Yes. Feedback from the patient or their attendant is compulsory before discharge and is a mandatory part of the hospital’s medical claim to ECHS. It must be filled at the time of discharge only — not before and not after. The patient should fill it honestly and diligently as it forms part of the official claim documentation.
Q5. What is the geo-tagged photograph requirement at discharge?
The hospital must take a geo-tagged photograph of the patient at the bedside at the time of discharge. The timestamp on this photograph must match the discharge timing recorded in the medical records and discharge slip. This photograph is submitted as part of the medical documents for the hospital’s online claim processing with ECHS.
Q6. Is post-discharge follow-up consultation free after major surgery under ECHS?
Yes. For patients who have undergone major surgeries the hospital must provide free consultation for up to seven days after discharge. This post-discharge follow-up is included in the package rate. The hospital cannot charge separately for follow-up consultations within this seven-day post-discharge period.
Q7. Can a patient review their hospital bill before discharge under ECHS?
Yes. Every ECHS patient must be given the opportunity to scrutinise their hospital bill before discharge. This is a specific right under ECHS. Review every line item carefully. If any charge appears to be for an item already covered under the package rate question it before signing and before leaving the hospital.
Q8. What happens if a patient needs to stay beyond the standard package period?
If a patient needs to stay beyond the standard package duration the hospital must seek online approval from ECHS authorities with full medical justification. The additional reimbursement covers accommodation charges, investigations, up to two specialist visits per day, and medicines for the extra days. No charge is allowed for extensions caused by hospital-induced infection or improper procedures.
Q9. What is the rule about extended stay caused by a hospital-induced complication?
If a patient’s stay is extended because of an infection or complication resulting from a surgical procedure or due to any improper or unjustifiable procedure by the hospital, no additional charge for that extended stay is allowed. The hospital bears the cost of the extra stay in such cases. The patient is not responsible for complications caused by the hospital.
Q10. What documents must accompany an extension of stay request to ECHS?
All requests for extension of stay beyond the standard package period must be accompanied by relevant medical records, proper clinical justification for the extended stay, and a fresh bedside geo-tagged photograph of the patient in PDF format. Without these documents the extension request cannot be properly processed by ECHS authorities.
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