The Ministry of Communications said on Friday that the Department of Posts (DoP) has started a special medication delivery service for former service members.

Under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), the service, which was introduced in partnership with the Department of Ex-Servicemen (DESW), would make it easier to pick up, schedule, transmit, and deliver medications to homes that are not available at ECHS polyclinics.

“Under this initiative, the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) Common Service Center (CSC) located at ECHS polyclinics will procure and package medicines, while India Post’s reliable delivery network will handle logistics and delivery,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“This arrangement guarantees the efficient, secure, and nationwide delivery of medications to ECHS beneficiaries,” the statement continued.

After receiving positive feedback from its first July 31 test in Delhi, the service was later extended to the NCR, which now includes Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Building on the success of the trial, which saw the delivery of over 1,700 medication packets, a thorough mapping of 458 ECHS locations nationwide has been finished, and the service will be accessible starting on October 17.

The Ministry stated, “The initiative reflects the Department of Posts’ commitment to leveraging its extensive postal network for public service and welfare projects.”

It also stated, “The service will guarantee prompt and dependable medication delivery to ECHS beneficiaries, reinforcing India Post’s position as a reliable partner in nation-building and citizen welfare.”

To promote environmentally friendly packaging options for postal services, the Department of Posts and the Indian Institute of Packaging inked a Memorandum of Understanding in September.

The collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge, environmentally friendly packaging solutions for a variety of industries.

In addition to creating eco-friendly, economical, long-lasting, shockproof, lightweight, customizable, and scalable materials, it concentrated on sustainable substitutes for existing materials like corrugated boxes and fabric wraps.