The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Court directs ESI to examine Act for part reimbursement of medicines

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Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Court directs ESI to examine Act for part reimbursement of medicines

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to ascertain whether it had passed any special order or note relating to the reimbursement of medicines. Three residents of Bangalore, who had undergone kidney transplant, and the Kidney Patients’ Welfare Association, had appealed to the court against the decision of the corporation in stopping the supply of certain generic and life-saving drugs prescribed to them. In its petition, the association claimed that several of its members, including the petitioners, are covered under the (medical) provisions of the ESI Act under which they can either avail of treatment at ESI or any designated hospital, or claim reimbursement after taking treatment at hospitals referred by the ESIC. The Bench wanted to know the provision of the ESI Act whereby it could pay the patients only a part of the reimbursement they claimed. The Bench observed that if there is no such clause, the corporation would have to bear the full medical expenses. It asked the corporation to examine whether it had a special rule limiting reimbursement.

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