Panaji: Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) on Tuesday urged the State government to immediately relive the doctors and others of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) corporation, so that the related dispensaries can resume their operations.
Association has said that several employees insured under ESI has been deprived of the benefit as the doctors and other related staff has been posted on COVID-19 duties.
“We urge the 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 Corporation,” GSIA President Damodar Kochkar has said in a media statement released here.
He said that restarting of ESI dispensaries will help the beneficiaries insured under the central government scheme.
“The beneficiaries of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) are relieved of their suffering and misery and they get medical treatment and their medical bills reimbursed in time,” he said.
Kochkar said that it has been more than a month that all dispensaries of ESIC have been closed by Goa Government and the ESI Doctors and para-medical staff have been serving continuously on Covid duties.
“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,” he added.
The Association has said that 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,” he added.
Kochkar pointed out that ESIC 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,” he added.
“To make the matter worse, in GMC and other Goa Government hospitals, there are different rules of treatment for Goans and Non-Goans which acts unfavourably to Insured Persons and beneficiaries. The Non-Goan insured persons complaint as to why they should pay ESIC contribution when they are deprived of treatment.”
“We have been informed that Additional Secretary, Health, Shri 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, Chief Minister and the Health Minister. However, there appears to be no coordination within Health Department as well as between other Departments.”
“We urge the 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 Corporation.”
