Panaji, May 30 : Some hospitals were trying to loot the government vis-a-vis payments under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday, adding that his ministry is examining the matter.

"We have an ECHS scheme for ex-servicemen... While studying the matter we realised that some hospitals were trying to loot the government. So we have started checking...," Parrikar said at the launch of the Goa government's universal medical insurance scheme in the state capital.

He said an effective system was being put in place to ensure that no wrong is committed.

Parrikar said his ministry had to pay off a lot of outstanding dues which he said had accumulated during the previous United Progressive Alliance government's rule.

"The past government put us in a lot of debt. We had to repay a lot. There was a lot of outstanding dues," the minister said.