Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Justice B. Subhashan Reddy has stepped in to facilitate liver transplants for four desperate patients suffering from end-stage ailments. The four will now undergo immediate transplant at Global Hospitals.
The quartet —A. Raveendra Babu, Y. Brahmaiah, B. Gowri Shankar Rao and S. Suryanarayana — who are covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme, had complained to the Lokayukta that the Corporation was not fulfilling its approval to cover their medical expenses.
Following medical evaluation for the transplant at Global Hospitals, the report, along with the a copy of the medical expenses was sent to the State Medical Commissioner (SMC), ESIC, Hyderabad, who approved the proposal. However, the ESIC, New Delhi, citing a change of policy, decided to reduce the amount of contribution to 50 per cent.
Meanwhile, Global Hospitals sought re-affirmation from the ESIC on the expenses approved earlier, which the Corporation refused.
The Lokayukta passed an order that the SMC is bound to re-endorse the earlier medical expense, directing Global Hospitals to reduce the expense by Rs. 2 lakh a patient — a total of Rs. 8 lakh for the four patients.
