Editor,
This has reference to the views expressed by Mr Rupert Lyngdoh regarding administration and service issues of MHIS published in your esteemed daily of November 8, 2017 – ‘”MHIS- blessing turned curse.” The points raised by Mr Lyngdoh are relevant and demand answers from the concerned authority. This much hyped and touted scheme of Health Insurance is a nightmare in terms of administration and servicing the insurees. I would like to share my experience from day one i.e. issuance of smart card. Firstly the entire operation for issuing of smart cards is being conducted from a shed (garage). Potential insurees after being issued service number upon scrutiny of EPIC cards are told to head to another place which is a shed (garage) for photography and issuance of smart card. To top it the handling of the dealing staff is questionable. They are in the habit of indulging in bad and rude behaviour at the slightest pretext. When I reported this to the Manager, he offered his apologies but at the same time explained the bad behaviour to increased work load and working conditions of his staff. I did not see any sense in arguing with him and left the premises with a bad taste in my mouth. I am sure there must be many Insurees like me who have gone through a similar experience and I would urge them to come forward and speak up so that this first experience of MHIS is delivered in a dignified and professional manner.
No details of the Health Insurance Scheme are provided except Health Insurance Cover amount is for 2.80 lakh per annum. Now coming to the administration and settlement part the time taken to settle the claim by MHIS counters in various hospitals is mind-boggling.The insurance claims are vetted by MHIS staff and sent to TPA in Kolkata for final approval of the Insurer’s liability. This process is again non-transparent and takes anywhere between 4 to 5 hours. Till such time the patient cannot be discharged from the hospital nor is he aware of the amount payable, for obvious reasons. In this day and age of technology why a simple approval should take so much time is baffling. The MHIS staff simply passes the buck to TPA who take their own sweet time to process the claim. Hence patients and attendants are left high and dry for a paltry sum of claim wherein nothing is explained about the settlement of claim against each head of medical expenses charged in the hospital bill.
Yours etc.,
Shaiq Parvez Kraipak
Shillong -14
NEHUSU elections
Editor,
As the former President of the NEHU Students’ Union, I am disappointed and aggrieved to state that in the process of the NEHU Students’ Union Elections for the term 2017-18, the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) of NEHU, Prof H. Kayang, who is supposed to be an impartial and neutral official of the University has actively campaigned and used unbecoming and communal language to influence the outcome of the elections. As the former President of the Students’ Union of the University, I am utterly dismayed by the conduct of the DSW. During my tenure as the President of Students’ Union of NEHU, I have had my differences with the Administration on several issues which plague the University. However, I do not believe that the officials or the administration should obstruct or interfere in the democratic process of student elections. The University should be a specimen of the flourishing and the growth of noble ideals like Democracy and Secularism. I am proud of being a citizen of the largest democracy in the world and as a dutiful citizen who believes in secular ideals I abhor communalism to the utmost. The attempt of the DSW to plant the dangerous seeds of communalism in the campus as was evident during the NEHUSU elections should be checked and dealt with a stern hand of secular and democratic justice. Communalism should not be encouraged to thrive and exist in any capacity or form. NEHU does not belong to any particular community or religion, but, it belongs to civilized free- thinking men and women with a desire to acquire knowledge and wisdom to bring about a better society.
In one of the messages that the DSW sent to students and teachers through social media platforms like WhatApps he said, “I on behalf of the Khasi professors in NEHU wishes that this year we should get new faces of student leaders, for a change & for new innovative ideas. To inform you as I have informed other students that everyone in the University are fed up with old faces. Being a person who deeply involved in religious activities with the Christian students in NEHU etc., so please support the new faces”. The DSW is one of the officers conducting the NEHUSU elections. He should never have voiced his opinion on whether the student community should elect old or new faces of student leaders as that is a prerogative that belongs solely to the students. Prof. H Kayang does not have the right to utter anything on behalf of the Khasi professors in NEHU, as he is not in a position to do so and nor does he have the right to claim to be their representative. Moreover, his involvement in the religious activities of Christian students, does not give him the right or the moral ground to call upon the student community in NEHU to support his so called ‘new faces’ and he surely does not in any way represent the sentim ents of the Christian community in NEHU. These are merely the utterance and the awkward rhetoric of an individual who is hell bent on promoting his selfish interests.
I feel that it is right and appropriate that this matter be thoroughly investigated and stringent action taken to put the offender in check. As a product of NEHU I also cannot fathom that such conduct be displayed by the Administration viz. the VC and the DSW administration who are instead defending him despite his undemocratic and unethical actions.
Yours etc.,
Napolean S Mawphniang ,
Via email