ESIC Patient Forced to Pay Rs 4.30 Lakh Despite Cashless Treatment Entitlement
In a shocking case of healthcare rights violation, a patient insured under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was allegedly forced to pay approximately Rs 4.30 lakh for treatment at Eden Critical Care Hospital in Chandigarh, despite being entitled to completely cashless medical care.
The Timeline of Medical Financial Burden
The ordeal began on November 5, 2025, when Jashanpreet Khan, a resident of Mohali working with Cosmo Automobiles, suffered serious injuries including rupture and severe infection while on duty. He was initially taken to GMCH Sector 32 in Chandigarh before being transferred to Eden Critical Care Hospital on the same day.
According to family accounts, the hospital immediately collected Rs 30,000 as an admission charge. The financial burden continued to mount over the following days, culminating in a payment of Rs 4,00,000 on November 13 to cover the majority of the medical expenses. The hospital then demanded an additional Rs 90,396 for patient discharge on Saturday, bringing the total demanded amount to nearly Rs 5 lakh for ten days of treatment.
Hospital Ignored ESIC Cashless Treatment Protocol
The patient's father had explicitly informed hospital authorities during admission about his son's ESIC insurance coverage and entitlement to cashless treatment. However, the hospital administration allegedly rejected this request, claiming that "ESI treatment will take time" according to family statements.
More disturbingly, the family has accused hospital staff of forcing the father to sign a written statement under pressure. This alleged coercion prompted the filing of an official complaint with ESIC Regional Director Dr Rajiv Chhabra, who also serves as the State Medical Officer for Punjab.
ESIC Authorities Take Swift Action
Responding to the complaint filed on November 14, Dr Chhabra issued strict directions to the hospital via email on the same day. The official communication stated clearly that collecting Rs 4,30,000 from an ESIC beneficiary constitutes a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the hospital and ESIC.
The ESIC director's email contained unambiguous instructions: "refund the amount to the IP for early resolution" and "ensure that treatment is strictly provided as per SOP." The message emphasized the urgency of the matter, classifying it as "most urgent."
Hospital's Contradictory Response and Legal Stand
Despite the clear directives from ESIC officials, the hospital proceeded to discharge the patient while still preparing a bill showing Rs 90,000 as due amount. This action occurred even after the ESIC intervention, demonstrating apparent disregard for regulatory authority.
Advocate Jasbir Singh, who is providing legal assistance to the affected family, expressed serious concerns about the hospital's conduct. "Despite clear directions from officials yesterday, the hospital discharged the patient while still preparing a bill today showing nearly Rs 90,000 due," he stated. "The MoU clearly states that all hospitals must provide cashless treatment to ESIC workers and cannot take money from them. Strict action is necessary so that other workers are not harassed in the same manner."
When confronted about the allegations, Eden Hospital manager Karamchand offered a contradictory explanation, claiming that "when the patient was admitted, the family did not inform us that he was an ESIC card holder." He further stated that "the next day when they informed us, we took the consent and told them that we would get the bill reimbursed ourselves," attributing the situation to "confusion."
This case highlights significant concerns about the implementation of ESIC cashless treatment protocols and raises questions about whether other insured workers might face similar challenges when seeking medical care at empaneled hospitals.
