ESIC to Reimburse Medical Bill & Compensate for Harassment - Consumer Forum

Consumer Forum solicits ESIC to reimburse medical bill of worker employed at MSME unit, compensate for mental harassment

Consumer Forum solicits ESIC to reimburse medical bill of worker employed at MSME unit, compensate for mental harassment

The ESI Punjab has been asked by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to pay a compensation of Rs 25000 for mental harassment and also reimburse the cost of Rs 1,23,562 incurred in emergency treatment at a private hospital to a worker employed at an MSME unit in Mohali.

“Sanjeev Kumar an employee of M/s Tynor Orthotics Pvt Ltd Mohali had taken treatment from a private hospital Inscol in Chandigarh from 22/07/2014to 04/08/2014 in emergency, as he was injured in road accident.” 

“The complainant submitted his medical reimbursement bill for Rs. 226113 at ESI Dispensary Phase-II, Mohali for reimbursement. The poor worker was shuttering from pillar to post to get reimbursement of his medical bill but all in vain. During the period of one & half year he visited number of times to ESI dispensary Social Security Officer ESIC and Director Health Services (ESI) Punjab for payment of his reimbursement bill, but the authorities has rejected his bill on flimsy grounds.” 

-  Jasbir Singh,
Advocate for the complainant,
Chairman of Labour Laws Committee,
 Mohali Industries Association

Singh said that the worker has been depositing ESI contribution from the date of joining the company and is eligible for cashless medical benefits as per ESI Act, 1948. 

The family of the poor worker arranged loan from their near and dears for treatment, he said. 

Mohali Industries Association also pointed that in case of Emergency/Accidental cases, there is no proper arrangement at ESI hospital in Mohali for treatment. 

“The Hospital is ill-equipped and lacks basic amenities. It has acute shortage of doctors and supporting staffs and the hospitals have no ambulance facility or adequate medicines, technicians, surgeons etc for treating emergency cases,” 

 Jasbir Singh, 

Advocate for the complainant,

Chairman of Labour Laws Committee,

 Mohali Industries Association

Harried over running at the ESIC hospitals for reimbursements, the worker finally filed a Consumer complaint at the District Forum Mohali. 

The Forum had ordered SSMC, ESIC and DHS (ESI) Punjab Chandigarh to reimburse the amount of Rs.113562/- of medical bills along with the interest @ 9% per annum from the date of submission i.e. 02/09/2014 till actual payment. 

The Forum also asked ESI to pay lump sum compensation of Rs.25000/- for mental agony, harassment and cost of litigation within a period of one month. 

Singh said that that instead of complying with the orders of the Consumer Forum, the ESI authorities filed an appeal with in State Commission. The State Commission Punjab, Chandigarh, however, affirmed and upheld the orders of District Consumer Forum. 

The MSME entrepreneurs in the region, time and again they have been bringing out the issue of poor state of ESIC hospitals which totally lacks infrastructure and has minimal medical facilities. 

The Mohali Industries Association (MIA) had filed a PIL in the Punjab And Haryana High Court against ESIC regarding poor facilities being provided to Insured Persons in ESI Hospitals / Dispensaries in an around Mohali.