Sanguem: Every family in Goa holding the prestigious Government sponsored Health Card expects medical aid under the scheme to come to rescue at the time of emergency. Sanguem resident Joe D’Costa, who recently got his child admitted in a private hospital at Margao on the advice and written note of officials attached to Curchorem Cacora Community Health Centre (CHC), claimed that it was not happening.
D’costa informed that last week, his 9 year old son Daison D’Costa suffered burn injuries to his lower part of the body due to boiling water. The family members of D’costa immediately rushed Daison to the CHC for medical treatment. However, on admission to the CHC, the doctors at the health centre directed D’Costa to take his son to a private hospital in Margao as he could not be treated at the CHC. The officials gave a noting to the family members of D’costa to take their son to a designated private hospital where he could be treated. Ironically after four days of medical treatment, the cost of which amounted approximately to Rs 80000, D’costa was in shock when the hospital authorities told him that he cannot get the mediclaim benefits for the skin treatment at the hospital under the government sponsored Health Insurance Scheme. D’Costa rushed to the health card centre at Sanguem Primary Health Centre to inquire into the matter. At the centre, after having called the insurance company’s toll free number, D’Costa was informed of the designated hospital where his child was undergoing treatment has not been covered for skin treatment under the scheme.
Highly dejected with the answer by the insurance company, D’costa wondered as to what type of ailments the health cards are to be used particularly at times of emergency when people run to the nearest hospitals for medical aids.
While he could personally afford to pay the medical bills of his son, D’costa urged the authorities to display at public places and the designated health card centers the hospitals where the health cards could be used and for what ailments.
D’costa also questioned the authorities as to what poor people would do when they rush to the private health centers for medical aid largely thinking of the benefits they are entitled under health card scheme but are ultimately told that the card is not being accepted at the Hospital.
