Friday, February 7, 2014

Max Hospital, Saket denies free treatment to Myanmar Refugee (EWS Critical Heart Patient) - Social Jurist writes to Delhi CM

To,

Shri Arvind Kejriwal
Chief Minister
Government of NCT of Delhi
IP Estate
New Delhi-110002

07.02.2014

Sub: Myanmar refugee ( EWS Critical Heart Patient) Denied free treatment by Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute, Saket

Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji,

I would like to bring to your notice a shocking incident of denial of free treatment by Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute, Saket, New Delhi (in short Max Hospital, Saket ) to Mr. Thi Poeng, an EWS critical heart patient on the ground that he is a Myanmar refugee. Such a conduct on the part of the hospital is not only unethical and illegal but also in violation of orders passed by Hon’ble Delhi High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court in Social Jurist PIL whereby this and the other similar hospitals are obliged to provide free treatment to EWS Patients to the extent of 10% I.P.D and 25% O.P.D .

Mr. Thi Poeng, a resident of Plot No. 37, Sitapuri, New Delhi-110045 (Mobile No. 9650473224 ) is recognized as refugee under the Mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is holding Refugee ID Card No. 513-09C00498 since 2008. His Family income is only Rs.2000 per month which he gets from UNHCR as a subsistence allowance on account of being an extremely vulnerable refugee family. The eligibility income limit for an EWS patient for receiving free treatment under EWS category from any identified hospital like Max Hospital, Saket is Rs. 8086 per month. Therefore, Mr. Thi Poeng is eligible for free treatment under EWS category from the said hospital.

Mr. Thi Poeng complaining heart ailment contacted the undersigned on 05-02-2014 and requested for helping him in getting free treatment from Max Hospital. The undersigned accordingly verified and recommended his case for free treatment to Max Hospital, Saket . Mr. Thi Poeng along with one Mr. Mang Kung approached Max Hospital, Saket same day. The hospital instead of providing free treatment denied him medical treatment saying that he is a foreign refugee. Thereafter, the undersigned talked to Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer of the Max Hospital,Saket and requested him to provide Mr. Thi Poeng free treatment under EWS category. Mr. Mahesh told me that he would talk to the hospital management and revert back to me with response. I did not receive any call from Mr. Mahesh. However, I was informed by Mr. Thi Poeng that the hospital has asked him recommendation letter/Income Certificate from UNHCR office. Despite the fact that such a demand was unnecessary and illegal on the part of the hospital, Mr. Thi Poeng approached the office of UNHCR on 06-02-2014 and after great efforts was able to get a family income certificate which indicates that his family income is Rs. 2000 per month. After obtaining such certificate Mr. Thi Poeng again approached Max Hospital, Saket and requested for providing free treatment. The hospital even after taking the original copy of income certificate from Mr. Thi Peong, flatly refused to provide him free treatment. At this stage, the undersigned called Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer on telephone and enquired as to why Mr. Thi Poeng was not been given free treatment under EWS category even after production of Income Certificate. Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer, told me that hospital has decided not to provide free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng as he is a foreigner refugee on Indian land . Thereafter, Mr. Thi Poeng came to my office and submitted a written complaint. The copies of the complaint dated 06-02-2014, Income Certificate from UNHCR dated 06-02-2014 and Refugee ID issued by UNHCR are enclosed hereto your ready reference.

It is submitted that Max Hospital, Saket is totally unjustified in refusing free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng under EWS category. I understand that the case of Mr. Thi Poeng who is not only a refugee but also belongs to an extremely vulnerable family deserves to be treated from human point of view also. I also understand that our Nation has an obligation to look after the interest of refugees like Mr. Thi Poeng and cannot be ignored at all.

You are therefore requested to intervene in this matter on an urgent basis and direct Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute, Saket, New Delhi to immediately provide free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng under EWS category.

With regards,

Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
Advisor,Social Jurist
M - 9811101923








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