The Gauhati High Court on Wednesday has directed the Assam Government to ensure persons having health insurance cover are not denied treatment in private hospitals in the state.
A division bench of Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak after hearing the PIL filed by the Lawyers Association, Guwahati on May 24, 2021, had directed the state authority to abide by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India which has been passed under section 14 of the 1999 Act.
According to the order copy it reads, “In this case, counsel for the petitioners, A Chamuah has placed before the Gauhati High Court an order passed by the regulatory authority, i.e Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India created under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.”
The said authority has passed an order on March 4, 2021, under section 14[1] of the 1999 Act, which clearly stipulates that persons having insurance cover will be given treatment by the designated private hospitals in case such persons get infected with Coronavirus.
However, Advocate General, Assam who appeared in this matter has also assured the court that appropriate order shall also be passed by the concerned authority at the state level to ensure that persons having insurance cover are not denied treatment in the private hospitals.
The petitioner alleged that in Assam many COVID-19 patients having health insurance coverage are not being admitted to private hospitals contrary to directions issued in this regard by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) on March 4, 2020.
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