Emergency Care Denied at ESI Hospital, Leads to Amputation
In a shocking incident highlighting alleged systemic failure, a man's finger had to be amputated after the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Hospital in Mohali's Phase 7 reportedly denied him emergency treatment. The victim, Jatinder, is the husband of an ESIC-insured worker, and the refusal was based on the claim that he was "not eligible for cashless treatment," a decision that directly contravenes established ESIC guidelines for emergencies.
A Tragic Sequence of Events
The ordeal began on November 17 when Jatinder and his wife, Fulkumari Devi, an employee of Ortech Textiles Pvt Ltd in Mohali, were on their way to work and met with a road accident. The family stated that they were initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Phase 6. Due to a severe crush injury on his left little finger, Jatinder was referred to the Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16, Chandigarh.
Before proceeding to GMSH-16, the couple visited the ESI Hospital in Phase 7, hoping for immediate care. It was here that the duty doctor allegedly refused to treat Jatinder, turning them away and instructing them to go back to GMSH-16. This critical delay set off a chain of events with devastating consequences.
After waiting for three hours at GMSH-16 and claiming that no doctor examined him, the couple returned home. The next morning, a private hospital in Mohali delivered the grim news: the delay had been too long, and plastic surgery to save the finger was no longer possible. The only option left was amputation, for which the family had to pay Rs 5,000 out of their own pocket.
Contradiction of Rules and Demand for Accountability
The family and their representative, advocate Jasbir Singh, have pointed out that the hospital's refusal violates the ESIC headquarters' guidelines dated August 18, 2020. These rules clearly state that insured persons and their dependents are entitled to super speciality treatment benefits from the very first day of insurable employment, especially in emergency situations.
Calling the incident a "serious system failure," advocate Jasbir Singh said, "Workers who contribute to the ESI scheme deserve better services. A finger could have been saved with timely treatment. We demand strict action against the responsible officials." He also revealed that he had alerted senior ESIC officials on the same day but received no response.
In the wake of the incident, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has taken notice. ESIC regional director Pankaj Vohra confirmed, "We received this information today through advocate Jasbir Singh. I have sought a detailed report from the concerned SMO. Further action will be taken as per rules after the report is received." The case has put the spotlight on the urgent need for hospitals to adhere to protocol and provide emergency care without bureaucratic hurdles.
