The ESIC Pensioners’ Association, NCR-Delhi, has expressed serious concern over an alleged case of medical negligence involving a retired Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) employee, who has reportedly been denied entitled treatment despite suffering from a life-threatening illness.
General Secretary of the ESIC Pensioners Welfare Association J P Sharma has alleged that the designated Nodal Officer has refused to authorise the beneficiary’s proper treatment despite clear entitlements under the Pensioners’ Medical Scheme–2006 (PMS–2006). The denial, the Association claims, violates the Revised Guidelines of PMS–2006, approved in the 184th Meeting of the ESI Corporation.
These guidelines state that ESIC pensioners are entitled to medical facilities equivalent to those enjoyed by Central Government pensioners. The guidelines explicitly provides that if an ESIC hospital lacks the required facility, the pensioner “can opt to have treatment from an empanelled hospital and the referral to a private hospital shall not be denied,” Sharma said through a Press statement. Despite the absence of semi-private ward facilities in ESIC hospitals, the patient’s referral has allegedly been withheld, leading to delays in his ongoing chemotherapy.
“The cancer patient has been harassed by ESIC. His third chemo was due on September 25, but till date nothing has been done,” said Sharma. Terming the incident a “life-threatening denial of entitled care,” the Association warned that such actions undermine faith in ESIC’s medical governance. Sharma on behalf of the association has urged the authorities to intervene urgently, ensure adherence to PMS–2006 provisions and uphold the rights and dignity of retired employees who served the institution.