Chandigarh consumer court orders Rs 2.9 lakh payout to cancer patient
compensation
Chandigarh: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has directed Punjab government authorities to pay Rs 2.90 lakh along with Rs 20,000 as compensation to a retired deputy district attorney who underwent treatment for prostate cancer.
The commission passed the order while partly allowing a complaint filed by the patient, a resident of Sangrur, who alleged a deficiency in service over partial reimbursement of his medical expenses.
As per the complaint, the patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and underwent treatment at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, spending around Rs 4.01 lakh. However, despite submitting all bills and required documents, he was reimbursed only Rs 1.11 lakh in January 2021.
In their defence, the Punjab government’s Director Prosecution and Litigation and the Additional Secretary stated that the reimbursement was granted strictly as per the Punjab Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1940, which limit payments to government-fixed rates. They also argued that the complainant had submitted an undertaking agreeing to accept reimbursement as per the prescribed rates.
However, the commission observed that there was no evidence to show that the terms, conditions, or package rates were properly explained to the complainant. It held that merely submitting an affidavit without informed consent cannot bind a person to restricted reimbursement.
As per a latest Indian Express media report, the panel further noted that the treatment was for a life-threatening disease and that the expenses incurred were genuine and not disputed.
Terming the partial reimbursement as “arbitrary” and a case of “deficiency in service”, the commission directed the authorities to pay the remaining Rs 2.90 lakh along with 9 per cent annual interest from August 17, 2021, till realisation.
