ECHS card retention by hospitals is now officially flagged as a rule violation after the Regional Centre ECHS (V), Visakhapatnam, issued a formal advisory dated 10 August 2026, asking all empanelled hospitals under its jurisdiction to immediately stop retaining beneficiaries’ smart cards during hospitalisation and after discharge. The letter (Ref: RCV/4307/Med), signed by Dr B Swarna Rekha, Medical Officer and Joint Director (HS) (AOL) for the Director, was sent to all Health Care Organisations (HCOs) under the Visakhapatnam Area of Responsibility, with copies marked to the Station Headquarters and the Polyclinics.
This matters to any ECHS beneficiary who has been admitted for treatment and then found the hospital reluctant to hand the card back at discharge. It isn’t a courtesy the hospital is doing you a favour with — it’s a documented compliance requirement, and this advisory spells out exactly what hospitals are and aren’t allowed to do with your card.
What the ECHS Advisory Says
The advisory addresses ECHS card retention by hospitals directly, noting that empanelled hospitals have been retaining ECHS Smart Cards during hospitalisation and, in many cases, even after the beneficiary’s discharge. It states plainly that the ECHS Smart Card is the personal property of the beneficiary and must not be retained by any empanelled hospital under any circumstances.
Hospitals may verify the card and the beneficiary’s details at admission or at any point during treatment, but the original card must be returned to the beneficiary immediately after verification. Holding the card once the patient is discharged, the letter says, is “neither justifiable nor acceptable.”
Why ECHS Card Retention by Hospitals Keeps Happening
Hospital billing desks sometimes keep the smart card on file “for record purposes” or to ensure a bill is settled before the patient walks out — a habit carried over from cashless-insurance workflows, where documents sit with the TPA desk until paperwork clears. ECHS doesn’t work that way. The card only needs to be checked, not kept in a drawer with a patient file, and hospitals that continue to do this are now on formal notice.
What Hospitals Are Required to Do
To stop ECHS card retention by hospitals for good, the Regional Centre has laid out four clear requirements for HCOs under its AOR:
- Verify the card and beneficiary identity at admission, or whenever needed during treatment
- Return the original card to the beneficiary immediately after verification
- Complete all administrative and billing formalities without holding back the card or any other identity document
- Circulate this instruction to all concerned hospital staff and ensure strict compliance
Important Points to Remember
- This particular case of ECHS card retention by hospitals covers HCOs under Visakhapatnam’s Area of Responsibility, but the underlying rule — that the smart card is your property — is a general ECHS principle, not a regional exception.
- If a hospital insists on keeping your card past discharge, you can point them to this instruction and ask, in writing if needed, for it to be returned.
- Take a photo of both sides of your card before any admission, so you have a backup record in case the physical card is lost or damaged during your stay.
- Complaints about a hospital not returning a card, or any other empanelment issue, should go to the Director of the concerned Regional Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a hospital ask to see my ECHS card during treatment?
Yes. Hospitals can verify the card and your details at admission or any time during treatment, but they have to hand it back right after checking.
What if a hospital already kept my card after discharge?
Contact the hospital’s ECHS or TPA desk first and ask that it be returned, citing this advisory. If they refuse, escalate to the Director of your Regional Centre ECHS.
Does this rule apply outside Visakhapatnam?
This specific letter is addressed to hospitals under the Visakhapatnam AOR, but the principle that the card belongs to the beneficiary is a general ECHS rule.
Can a hospital deny treatment if I won’t leave my card with them?
No. Verification doesn’t require the hospital to physically hold the card between visits or beyond discharge.
Final Words
The rule has always been in place — this letter is the Regional Centre formally putting hospitals on notice. If you notice ECHS card retention by hospitals anywhere near you, don’t treat it as normal procedure; ask for the card back and quote this advisory if the staff hesitate.
For the list of ECHS empanelled hospitals in your area, see the ECHS empanelled hospital finder tool. For the official ECHS grievance channels, see the ECHS official website.
