The Supreme Court stated that if the court does not stand with doctors performing COVID duty, society will never forgive it. The Court emphasized compelling insurance companies to pay legitimate claims.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court made a historic observation regarding the insurance claims of doctors and healthcare workers who lost their lives during the COVID pandemic. The court stated that if the judiciary does not stand with such doctors who sacrificed their lives in the service of society, society will never forgive it. Reprimanding the central government and insurance companies, the Court said that keeping legitimate claims pending is an injustice and should be settled immediately.
Order to Provide Insurance to Doctors Who Died on COVID Duty
The case pertained to private doctors and healthcare workers who lost their lives while treating COVID patients in private clinics, dispensaries, or unregistered hospitals during the pandemic. They were not included under the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Bima Yojana, whereas doctors working in government institutions were provided benefits under this scheme.
The court stated that merely because a doctor was not in government service does not mean they were profiteering or shied away from COVID duty. The Court clarified that if it is proven that a doctor's death occurred during COVID service, the insurance company should not shy away from making the payment.
'Insurance Company Must Pay Legitimate Claim'
During the hearing, the bench stated that doctors and healthcare workers risked their lives to protect people during the pandemic. In such a scenario, the insurance companies' assertion that private practitioners are not eligible for a government scheme is inappropriate from a humanitarian perspective.
The court warned insurance companies not to reject legitimate claims due to unnecessary technical reasons. The Supreme Court said, "We will establish a principle, and claims will be settled based on that. Insurance companies will have to abide by our decision."
Directive to Central Government to Present Data
The Supreme Court directed the central government to present a detailed account of all such schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Bima Yojana, under which doctors and healthcare workers who worked during COVID were compensated.
The Court stated that we need to know how many doctors across the country sacrificed their lives during COVID duty and how many of them received insurance benefits. This information is mandatory to ensure justice and equality.
