New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) The union cabinet Wednesday approved the extension of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Nepal-domiciled Gorkha (NDG) pensioners in a decision expected to benefit around one lakh Indian ex-servicemen.

There are about one lakh Indian ex-servicemen and 2.17 lakh dependents domiciled in Nepal who will benefit from the ECHS. They are so far entitled to medical treatment under ECHS at polyclinics and ECHS-empanelled civil hospitals in India.

Considering the practical difficulties being faced by Nepal-domiciled Gorkha ex-servicemen in availing treatment, the government has decided to provide medical facilities to them in Nepal itself, officials said.

The ECHS provides comprehensive and quality healthcare benefits to pensioner ex-servicemen residing in India. Extending it to Nepal for Nepal-domiciled Gorkha ex-servicemen would meet a long-standing need for providing healthcare to them, an official said.

All other policies and procedures of ECHS which are applicable in India will also apply to pensioner NDGs ex-servicemen in Nepal.