HC raps ESIC Mohali, seeks details of money transfer between ESIC and DHS

Mohali, May 12 (KNN) The Punjab-Haryana High court in a hearing on a PIL filed by Mohali Industries Association (MIA) has asked for details of transactions between the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Mohali and the Directorate Health Services.

In the PIL, the Association claimed that the ESIC is supposed to provide cashless treatment to the insured workers under the ESIC scheme, but it is not doing so. Instead the workers are forced to bear expenses from their pockets and wait for the reimbursements which in some cases take years.

Hearing the PIL, the HC has asked for details of money that has been collected by the insurance corporation from the workers and the money that is passed over to the Director Health Services.

The bench comprised of Justice SS Saron and Justice Darshan Singh.

Talking to KNN, Jasbir Singh, President of Mohali Industries Association said that the ESIC have been involved in irregularities over providing appropriate medical care to the insured workers.  He also informed that it is not the first time that a case in relation with the ESIC has come up, there have been cases earlier in which poor workers had to file complaints and fight legally to get their bills from the Corporation.

He further said that he has full faith in the court and soon there will be justice to the poor workers.

In the petition, the Association has asked the respondents to make available proper medical facilities and infrastructure at the ESI hospitals and dispensaries in the district. Also the MIA has asked the court to issue directions to the Centre and other respondents to open ESI hospitals and dispensaries at other locations as well.

(KNN/ DA)