Reimbursement: Patients left in a lurch

Government employees, of the district, suffering from cancer, kidney ailments and other diseases, who had spent huge amounts for treatment from their pockets, have been waiting endlessly to get the reimbursement.

According to sources, the government is yet to settle reimbursement claims amounting to Rs 5 crore, since two years. The employees, who have become weak due to the ailments and treatment, who have already been drained of cash, are now finding it difficult to bear the current medical expenses. The situation is worse for those who had taken loan from money lenders to meet their treatment and are paying hefty interests.

Funds
In all, the government is yet to settle the claims amounting to Rs 5 crore, including bills for the employees under the Education, Health and other departments. The government had released Rs 2.39 crore in 2013-14. However, it is yet to release Rs 2.10 crore for the year 2014-15, apart from the regular funds of Rs 2.98 crore.

A letter had been written to the Zilla Panchayat Finance department to release Rs 90 lakh to reimburse those suffering from kidney, cancer and life threatening diseases, so as to enable them to continue with their chemotherapy and dialysis treatments.
ZP Education and Health Standing Committee president Manjegowda said, the issue was brought to his notice during the last meeting, following which a letter has been written to the State government.

Jyothi Sanjeevini
The State government has recently introduced Jyothi Sanjeevini Health Insurance scheme for the benefit of government employees, but has failed to reach the beneficiaries as there is not much registration. The officials have been directed to intensify the drive, which provides free treatment to the patients and will lessen the burden of reimbursement, he added.

Taluk-wise reimbursement pending so far is K R Pet (Rs 43 lakh); Maddur (Rs 50 lakh); Malavalli (Rs 50 lakh), Mandya North zone (Rs 15 lakh); Mandya South zone (Rs 25 lakh); Nagamangala (Rs 50 lakh) and Pandavapura (Rs 40 lakh).