Critically-ill varsity girl shifted from Max for want of health cover

SHE WAS DENIED TREATMENT FOR WANT OF INSURANCE COVER MANDATED AS PER VARSITY RULES

BATHINDA: The Central University authorities were caught on a wrong footing here on Sunday, when a postgraduate student of their varsity was denied treatment at the Max Hospital, for want of medical insurance cover mandated as per university rules.

Mishibala Behera, a second year MSc student from Odisha and a hosteller, fell severely ill and reportedly caught multiple infections in the hostel. The university authorities took her to a local hospital where her condition deteriorated. Due to this, she was shifted to Multispeciality Max Hospital. The hospital bills exceeded ₹60,000. The girl’s financially weak father discovered that he had to pay the bills on his own pocket, as the patient was not covered under the medical insurance cover as mandated in accordance to the university’s guidelines. V-C Dr Ravinder Kohli, girl’s classmates and some teaching faculty members pooled in to pay amount after which she was taken to PGI, Chandigarh.

After the incident, it came to light that the university is supposed to cover students under cashless medical insurance, as mentioned in the prospectus. The students are being charged ₹431 as medical fee. The V-C, said the insurance cover was not done for the current financial year. “We had the cover) last year, but it is not there anymore,” the V-C said.

University’s medical officer Dr Mridula Mittal said the insurance cover, with an insurance company, was discontinued due to “financial irregularities at company-level.” As per guidelines, “the university has purchased health insurance for cashless treatment of students.” The victim’s family refused to comment, saying girl is now out of danger.