शनिवार, 24 जून 2023

Letters to SAIL Chairman re Healthcare

By e-mail: chairman.sail@sail.in

FORCE/SAIL-C/1323

    June 16, 2023

To

Sri Amarendu Prakash,

Chairman,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

.               Sub: Request to improve SAIL Mediclaim Scheme 23-24 for SAIL Retirees.

Ref: Our letter No. FORCE/SAIL-C/1123 & 1223 dated 23rd April 2023 & 05/06/2023 respectively.

Sir,                 

Pursuant to 13th FORCE Apex Council meeting held at Bhadravati on 28/29th March 2023 where the members Deliberated at length on existing SAIL Medical scheme and took stock of growing Resentment over some of the issues. The members also assessed and identified The areas where some improvements could be brought in to provide some relief to The already harassed cluster of SAIL retirees. As already known the SAIL Retirees are in the most pitiable condition compared to their counterparts in others PSUs.

FORSE also has been requesting SAIL Management to convene a meeting before the scheme for 2023-24 This is given a final shape. Regretfully it has also not been agreed so far. We were Therefor forcing to make out a comprehensive note covering and demand on improvements. to be considered in ensuing scheme which were sent to you on 23rd April 2023 and on 05th June 2023 as a follow-up.

For the sake of brevity, We incorporate some silent points on the issue.

1. OPD ceiling to Be enhanced to Rs.20000 for each with clubbing facility.

2. All pathological/diagnostics Tests recommended by SAIL doctors may be undertaken in SAIL/SAIL nominated Hospitals free.

3. Treatment of SAIL retirees for all terminal diseases eg cancer, necessitating organ Transplant, CKD etc. Should be made free at par with serving employees

4. NIA has stopped reimbursement of a combination of Leuprolide + Bicalutamide + Shelcal- a must medicine for Cancer recently which used to be reimbursed in the past. This and Other medicines for treatment of cancer should be incorporated.

5. Clarity in exclusion list and Day care treatment (List should be exhaustive and should be Flexible for mid-course correction.)

6. Review of Capping system and charges. In a situation when maximum coverage in both IPD/ OPD is fixed Capping should be done away with.

7. Allowance of Treatment by RMP (minimum MBBS) at cities under OPD scheme.

8. Increase in Ceiling limit of cabin/cabin bed charges in hospitals (Linkage with Insured value).

9. Pathological/ Diagnostics charges not to be increased while in ICU/ITU/ICCU/Ventilator.

10. Coverage of Dental and Ayurvedic treatment under the scheme.

11. Reduction in Top Up and super top premiums to make these more affordable.

12. NO INCREASE IN EXISTING PREMIUM RATES

13. FREE MEDICAL CHECK UP PERIODICALLY

We hope these Points will be adequately addressed in the new scheme under finalization. Waiting Eagerly to hear from you soon.

With regards,

Yours Faithfully,

For and on behalf of the Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N. Sharma)

Chairman               

(Ram) Agar Singh(

 Gen Secretary

 

 ***************

By e-mail: chairman.sail@sail.in

FORCE/SAIL-C/1223

    World Env. Day, 2023  

To

Sri Amarendu Prakash,

Chairman,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

.              Sub: A comprehensive demand for Healthcare of SAIL Retirees.

Ref: Our letter No. FORCE/SAIL-C/1123 Dated 23/04/2023 (copy attached)

Sir,                 

Further to our above Referred letter on the subject issue we feel that corporate personnel dept. Must have initiated formulation of SAIL Mediclaim Scheme 2023-24 for retired employees of SAIL and necessary steps of tendering, negotiation and Finalization of the Scheme must be on the way. In this connection we would like To invite your kind attention to the contents of our above referred letter with a comprehensive demand for Healthcare of SAIL Retirees. We hoped to be Invited by SAIL to explain our points of view based on long and wider Experience so that issues can be better appreciated by SAIL personnel and Necessary improvements/ The changes are incorporated. But it has not happened so Far.

Sir, we request you to Kindly involves us in the formulation, negotiation and finalization of SAIL Mediclaim Scheme 2023-24 so that a "more meaningful, helpful and beneficial to Retires' scheme" is implemented. We are eagerly waiting to hear from you soon.

With regards,

Yours faithfully,

For and on behalf of the Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N. Sharma)

Chairman               

(Ram Agar Singh(

 Gen Secretary

 

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By e-mail: chairman.sail@sail.in 

Copy to Chairman-designate: amarendu@sail.in

FORCE/SAIL-C/1123

23/04/2023

To

Ms Soma Mondal,

Chairman,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: A comprehensive demand for Healthcare of SAIL Retirees.

Madam,

We would like to draw your kind attention to the discussion held in the XIII FORSE Apex Council meeting held at Bhadravati on March 28-29, 2023 Regarding Healthcare issues of the Retired Employees as well as demand made by The Council. All the members present expressed resentment over inadequate Healthcare for the retirees. While thanking SAIL management for increasing the IPD limit made effective from July 2022, there is more needed to bring Improvements in the present system. Members also expressed the serious economic Malady and social disparity in the whole system in respect of prevailing Healthcare of the retirees who had spent all their lives in the Company and Helped the Company to grow and to come to this shape.

In fact, a reference was made to the Directive Principles of the State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution (Articles 36 – 51), Article 38 which specifically envisages that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of The people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may, a social Order. The concept of 'social justice' Enables quality of life to flavour and enlivement the practical content of Life. With the Amendment in Article 44, The State shall in particular strive to minimize inequalities in the total Social system which encompasses the healthcare system which is more Cardinal Point in safeguard of one's life. However, in this canvass also, there is Glaring disparity and discrimination while protecting and maintaining proper Health and Life of the Retirees.

The injustice being done with SAIL Retirees, on this count, becomes more glaring When the available healthcare facilities in SAIL, a Maharatna PSU is compared vis-à-vis other few schedule-'A' PSUs like ONGC, IOC, BHEL, NTPC, BPCL etc. (Comparative Chart is in Annexure –'A'). Our Healthcare for retirees is inferior even to That of our sister concern RINL. As can be seen there were wide aberrations and Disparity in the matter of healthcare management inter-se Schedule-'A' PSUs for The reasons are not known. Historically, it Prima-Facie appears that there has been complete apathy and neglect towards the Life and healthcare of SAIL retirees though being a Maharatna Company and known So be an enlightened and professionally managed Company.

The criteria of profit / Profitability / Profitability, affordability, etc. Which are shown as normal impediments, are it seems no more valid in view of SAIL Reaching at Pinnacles of Glory and Fortunes. It is only the misfortune of disparaged class of SAIL retirees suffering From object neglect and apathy by keeping the permissible limits of OPD/OPD IPD Fixed at very low level when the cost of living has gone sky rocketing for last Dozens of years, though during the last two years, some remedial actions have been Taken but not much. It is not much of Profit and loss concept as taking into account the premium being paid by the Company, if an additional amount of Rs. 120 – Rs. 130 crore is spent, it is Felt and reasonably estimated that SAIL can provide free treatment to all Retirees at par with their serving employees – keeping the present free Treatment in plant hospitals open as Hitherto. In that case., the hassles of Providing Mediclaim Scheme Insurance coverage will altogether be Eliminated.

Members strongly felt that most of the maladies of 'Healthcare for Retirees' are born of keeping the FORSE representatives away from the policy Making in spite of our several requests at regular intervals. There is an Imperative need for direct involvement of FORSE representatives in formulation Of comprehensive healthcare policy as they are more approved about the Intricacies of the operative paras and also, they are the beneficiaries paying. Part of the premium.

It was also felt that there has to be uniform application of the policy And accepted benefits from there and to make it at par with serving employees as Envisaged in SAIL NJCS AGREEMENT, 1978.

The following issues Also need to be settled to provide more widespread benefits.

1) Better OPD facilities with ensured supply of all medicines to all the Retirees at par with Corporate Office and CMO.

2) All Pathological/ Pathological Diagnostic tests recommended by SAIL doctors/doctors In medical units Be undertaken in SAIL hospitals / SAIL nominated hospitals free at par with Serving employees.

3) For All Terminal Diseases, E.G. Cancer, Organ Transplant, Major Heart Surgery, CKD, Liver transplant etc., SAIL should come forward with free treatment

4) Free Periodic medical check-up for self and spouse

5) To Start 24-hour working help desk

6) Doctors' Prescription should be kept valid for one year for medicines

7) Members Also stressed for reduction in Top Up / Super Top Up premium rates which are Very high.

8) There Has to be clarity in "exclusion list" and it should be comprehensive. 

9) Similarly, there has to be clarity in "the list of Day Care Treatments List" and it should be comprehensive.

10) That Treatment as well as the charges for the retirees at Rourkela Super Specialty Hospital to be made at par with serving employees.

11) IT was also demanded that comprehensive dental treatment and Ayurvedic treatment Should be covered under the scheme.

12) Capping Should be stopped in empanelled hospitals. It was observed that in case of Capping, some hospitals are demanding additional amount as Doctors Charges / Medicines and also some time as special equipment/ Gadget charges. This practice should be stopped forthwith or Should be given full medical coverage.

13) IT was stressed by the representatives from Metro cities that treatment by RMP (minimum MBBS) should be allowed at par with serving employees as consultation Charges at nominated OPD centres/centres Hospitals are very high and there is also Logistics/ Movement problem in cities. For the diseases of less serious nature, one can always go to a local Doctor in the vicinity and avail the consultation at lower cost.

14) Our Long pending demand of increasing OPD limit to Rs. 20,000/- each for self and Spouse with clubbing facility should be met from this year.

15) ICCU / ICU/ICU ITU/ITU Ventilator charges are to be paid on actual basis. But the Diagnostics/ Diagnostic Pathological charges while the patient is in such critical beds, should Not to be raised high and are to be paid at normal rate as in entitled beds.

16) There Is needed to increase the entitlement limit of room rent further from 1%, 1.25%, 1.5% to 1.5%, 2% and 3% of individual sum insured value, depending upon The Category of the respective city, as such charges in specialty hospitals have been enormously increased or actually entitled / Available rooms are to be Allowed.

17) In Cases, where the patient is hospitalized before expiry of the policy period, But continues treatment after expiry of the policy, provision may be made to Reimburse total expenses incurred from the new policy if the balance in the The expired policy is not adequate to meet the total bill.

Madam, in view of ever-increasing cost of living and Healthcare and Ever-decreasing return on investment by Retirees we request you to kindly take A liberal view towards the above demands and acceptance and implementation of them from This year. We also propose for a SAIL-FORSE meeting at an early date to discuss These and other issues.

We hope to hear favorably from you soon.

With Regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V. N. Sharma)

 Chairman               

(Ram Agar Singh(

 Gen Secretary

 *********

By E-mail

FORCE/SAIL-C/1023

13/04/2023

To

Ms Soma Mondal,                                                                                           

Chairman,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: A demand for introduction of felicitation scheme of retired/ Voluntary Retired Employee

Madam,

Further to our various Communications for regular financial help to SAIL Retirees, a good number of Who are living in a difficult condition, this is to inform you that the XIIIth FORSE Apex Council meeting held on March 28-29, 2023 at Bhadravati discussed Various other schemes for financial help to SAIL retired employees. With Current healthy financial scenario in SAIL in mind, one of the feasible ones is introduction of scheme for felicitation of retired/retired people. Voluntary retired employee, which is in vogue in many of the Maharatna PSUs. A copy of the revised Felicitation scheme of ONGC is attached here with for your kind perusal and use in formulation of a similar scheme for SAIL Retirees.

In view of the above, we request you to Kindly Advise the Concerned Departments/ sections to formulate a Felicitation Scheme for SAIL Retirees and implement the same at an early date.

With regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V. N. Sharma)

Chairman            

(Ram Agar Singh(

Gen Secretary