Govt should clear my bills: MHIS beneficiary
SHILLONG: It has been five days now that a patient, KL Nonglait, a beneficiary of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), has been detained at city-based Nazareth Hospital for non-payment of hospital bill amounting to almost Rs 4000, but no efforts have yet been initiated either by the MHIS authorities or by the insurance company to sort out the matter.
Nonglait, an unfortunate victim of the MHIS discrepancies, on Wednesday stated his determination to stay put at Hospital until the State Government comes up with a concrete clarification on the issue and clears his hospital dues.
Nonglait, who hails from the remote village of Sngi Mawlein under Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills, was admitted at Nazareth Hospital on June 4 and was supposed to be discharged on June 8. However, he was not allowed to leave as the hospital authorities informed him that the insurance company had only reimbursed Rs 2000 and he had to pay the remaining balance of over Rs 4000.
Talking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, Nonglait said, “I will not move out without putting up a fight and I will continue to stay in the Hospital until and unless the authorities in charge of the MHIS provide me with concrete clarification and payment of my bills.” Lambasting the implementing agency for cheating the people especially the rural populace by making false promises, Nonglait said, “When the Government approached us with the scheme we were made to believe that medical treatment will be provided free of cost upto Rs 1.6 lakh but nothing was mentioned about any pre-approved packages or the likes.”
He maintained that it is the duty of the Government to solve this problem and to ensure that the beneficiaries, majority of who hail from the rural areas, are not left in the lurch.
“If these anomalies persist, the Government will lose the trust of the people and the MHIS will turn into an unwanted and non-functioning scheme,” the distraught patient said.
Health Minister AL Hek is slated convene a meeting with the implementing agency of this scheme to discuss about the anomalies in the MHIS on Thursday.