VASCO
The Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) on Tuesday appealed to the State government to immediately relieve doctors and other staff of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) dispensaries from Covid duty.
In a press release, GSIA President Damodar Kochkar said the GSIA had been constantly reminding the health department to relieve doctors and staff of at least Margao, Vasco and Panaji dispensaries, so that the insured persons of ESIC are relieved of their suffering and misery and they get medical treatment and their medical bills reimbursed in time.
"It has been over a month that all dispensaries of ESIC have been closed by the State government and ESI doctors and paramedical staff have been serving continuously on Covid duty. Closure of dispensaries has led to further deprivation of treatment facilities to the ESIC’s insured persons and their dependants.”
“Any medical bill for reimbursement of the insured person has to be certified by the dispensary. Nowhere in the country have all ESIC dispensaries been closed. The poor insured persons who need medical attention and reimbursement of their bills have nowhere to go. The ESIC hospital in Margao has also been converted as a Covid Centre," said Kochkar.
Kochkar said there is another aspect of ESIC services, which is to issue medical certificates to workers covered under ESIC.
“These certificates are issued to confirm their sickness, accident and maternity related issues. When workers are unable to attend to their work, the leave salary is paid by ESIC.”
“In spite of paying contribution to ESIC by the insured person as well as the employer, the beneficiaries are deprived of their rights. To make matters worse, in GMC and other government hospitals, there are different rules of treatment for Goans and non-Goans, which acts unfavourably to insured persons and beneficiaries.”
“Non-Goan insured persons want to know why they should pay ESIC contribution when they are deprived of treatment," said Kochkar.
"We have been informed that Additional Secretary (Health) Vilas Gaunekar has issued an order directing the dean of GMC to relieve the staff of ESIC dispensaries of Margao, Vasco and Panaji.”
“Copies of the order have been sent to district collectors, however there appears to be no coordination within the health department and other Departments," said Kochkar.
"We urge the State government to immediately relieve the doctors and other staff of, at least, Margao, Vasco and Panaji, so that these dispensaries operated on full-time basis for the benefit of insured persons of ESI.”
