ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara: Referral Process Explained Step by Step

The ECHS Polyclinic in Pokhara is the first point of contact for all retired Indian Army Gorkha veterans and their families seeking planned medical care in the Gandaki Province. Before visiting an empanelled hospital like A & B International Hospital for specialist treatment, most ECHS beneficiaries must first pass through this polyclinic. Understanding how the polyclinic works — and when you can bypass it — saves time and ensures your treatment is fully covered under ECHS.

What Is the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara and When Was It Established?

The ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara is a Type A ECHS polyclinic established in April 2014 to serve the large population of Nepal Domiciled Gorkha ex-servicemen in the Gandaki region. It provides OPD consultations, basic diagnostics, listed medicines, and referrals to empanelled hospitals for specialist or inpatient care.

Type A polyclinics are the largest category of ECHS polyclinic, staffed with multiple specialists, general duty medical officers, nursing staff, a pharmacy, and a basic diagnostic unit. The Pokhara polyclinic was established specifically to serve the high density of Gorkha veterans in the western Nepal region — Kaski, Syangja, Parbat, Tanahu, Lamjung, and adjacent districts. Since 2014, it has been the administrative and clinical gateway for thousands of ESM and dependents accessing ECHS benefits in western Nepal.

How Do You Register at the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara?

To register at the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara, an ESM presents their ECHS Smart Card on the first visit. The polyclinic records the beneficiary’s details, creates a patient file, and issues a registration number. Dependents listed on the ESM’s Smart Card are registered simultaneously or on their first separate visit.

Registration steps:

1. Arrive at the polyclinic during working hours with your ECHS Smart Card.
2. Present the ECHS Smart Card at the reception counter.
3. Staff verify the card — confirm the ESM’s details, service number, rank, and any enrolled dependents.
4. Patient record is created — the polyclinic opens a file for the ESM and each dependent.
5. Registration number issued — this is used for all future polyclinic visits.

If your ECHS card details are not updated (e.g., address change, new dependent), the polyclinic may request documentary proof before updating records. Bring your current address proof, dependent enrollment documents, and any earlier ECHS correspondence to avoid delays.

How Does the OPD Process Work at the Polyclinic?

On each OPD visit, the ESM or dependent presents the ECHS Smart Card at reception, receives a token or appointment number, and is seen by the duty medical officer or specialist. The polyclinic provides consultation, basic investigations, and issues medicines from the ECHS formulary — all cashlessly.

A standard OPD visit at the Pokhara polyclinic proceeds as follows:

1. Check-in — present ECHS Smart Card at the counter; collect patient file.
2. Waiting — sit in the designated waiting area; patients are called in order.
3. Consultation — the duty medical officer or specialist examines you, reviews your history, and assesses the complaint.
4. Investigations — if required, basic blood tests, X-rays, or other investigations available at the polyclinic are ordered.
5. Prescription / Medicines — medicines are prescribed and dispensed from the polyclinic pharmacy at no cost to the patient.
6. Follow-up or referral — the doctor decides whether to schedule a follow-up or issue a referral to an empanelled hospital.

All services at the polyclinic are cashless for valid ECHS beneficiaries.

When and How Does the Polyclinic Issue a Referral to A & B Hospital?

The polyclinic issues a referral when the patient’s condition requires specialist care, diagnostic investigations, surgical procedures, or inpatient treatment that exceeds the polyclinic’s capacity. The referral letter specifies the patient details, diagnosis, reason for referral, and the receiving hospital — in this case, A & B International Hospital Pokhara.

Situations that typically result in a referral to A & B International Hospital:

• Suspected surgical condition (hernia, gallstones, appendicitis, orthopedic injury)
• Chronic disease requiring specialist management (diabetes complications, cardiac conditions)
• Need for investigations not available at the polyclinic (CT scan, MRI, echocardiogram)
• Need for specialist review (orthopedics, neurology, gynecology, ophthalmology, ENT)
• Planned admission for inpatient treatment
• Post-surgical follow-up for procedures performed at A & B

The referral letter will contain:

• ESM/patient name and ECHS Smart Card number
• Service number and rank
• Diagnosis or provisional diagnosis
• Reason for referral
• Department or specialty being referred to
• Signature and stamp of the polyclinic medical officer
• Date of issue

This letter must be presented at A & B International Hospital’s ECHS registration counter to initiate cashless treatment.

What Happens If the Polyclinic Is Closed or Cannot Be Reached?

If the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara is closed (outside working hours, public holidays) and the condition is non-emergency, the patient should wait and visit on the next working day. For true emergencies, any ECHS beneficiary can proceed directly to A & B International Hospital’s 24-hour emergency department without a referral.

Clarifying the distinction:

• Non-emergency, polyclinic closed: Wait for the polyclinic to reopen. Do not bypass the polyclinic for routine conditions — treatment received without a valid referral may not be covered under ECHS for non-emergency cases.
• Urgent but not life-threatening: Contact the polyclinic by phone. The on-call medical officer may provide guidance or, in some cases, a telephonic referral.
• Emergency: Go directly to A & B International Hospital. Present your ECHS Smart Card as soon as possible. The emergency team will treat you and assist with documentation. Report to the polyclinic on the next working day with a copy of the A & B emergency treatment record.

Can a Referral Expire? What If You Cannot Use It Immediately?

Yes, ECHS referral letters have a validity period — typically 30 days from the date of issue, though this may vary by ECHS guidelines. If you cannot visit A & B International Hospital within the referral validity period, return to the polyclinic for a fresh referral. Do not attempt to use an expired referral letter.

Steps if a referral is nearing expiry or has expired:

1. Return to the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara.
2. Explain that you could not attend the hospital within the validity period (illness, travel, family reasons).
3. The polyclinic medical officer can issue a renewed or fresh referral if the condition still requires specialist care.
4. Proceed to A & B International Hospital with the updated referral.

Planning your specialist visit promptly after receiving a referral is the simplest way to avoid expiry issues.

Get Your ECHS Treatment at A & B International Hospital Pokhara

Once you have your referral from the ECHS Polyclinic Pokhara, A & B International Hospital is ready to receive you. Our ECHS-experienced team provides cashless specialist and hospital care across orthopedics, medicine, surgery, gynecology, ENT, ophthalmology, pediatrics, and more.

A & B International Hospital

Bindhyaabasini, Pokhara-02, Kaski, Nepal

Phone: +977 061-412512

Website: abinthospital.com

Emergency: 24 hours, 7 days

Present your ECHS Smart Card and referral letter at our registration desk. We take it from there — no payment, no hassle, full specialist care.