Panel doctors for ESI scheme go on strike

Nearly 850 panel doctors from Maharashtra,enlisted to treat patients under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS),have gone on strike demanding a hike in remuneration under the scheme.

Private practitioners who treat patients under the ESIS are paid a capitation fee of Rs 10 per month per unit (one card holder and his or her family). In Pune,more than 140 doctors are enlisted under the ESIS. In Maharashtra,18 lakh people are insured under the scheme,of which around 3.47 lakh are in Pune. Each doctor can treat at least 1,000 patients,but only 300-400 are routinely treated by them,the doctors claim.

T B Dhotre,president of the Insurance Medical Practitioners’ Association said they have not been paid for a year now. Besides,they have demanded an increase in the capitation fee to Rs 30 per unit per month. The doctors now plan to go on hunger strike and stage demonstrations.

The ESI Corporation (ESIC) provides cash benefits to subscribers,while medical benefits are provided by the state government. An insured person can register his card with a doctor of his choice in service dispensaries run by the state government.