Relieve insurance corp of Covid duty

Panaji: The closure of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) dispensaries for more than a month and the deployment of the ESIC medical staff for Covid duty has deprived industrial workers of medical treatment and issuance of medical certificates, said Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) president Damodar Kochkar.

GSIA has further said that despite the government directing Goa medical college and hospital to relieve the ESIC staff, the order has not been implemented.

“We have been informed that additional health secretary 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, the chief minister and the health minister. However, there appears to be no coordination within departments,” said Kochkar.

GSIA wants the health department to relieve the doctors and staff of the Margao, Vasco and Panaji ESIC dispensaries so that the industrial workers who are insured can get medical treatment and their medical bills reimbursed on time. “Closure of dispensaries has led to further deprivation of treatment facilities to the ESIC’s insured persons and their dependants,” said Kochkar.