THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Service organization leaders have demanded that employees and pensioners be given a choice regarding joining the MEDiSEP insurance scheme implemented for government employees, teachers and service pensioners and that this should be included when MEDiSEP is renewed in June. They said that those who are dissatisfied and inconvenienced should be able to opt out of the scheme.

Joint Council State General Secretary Jayachandran Kallingal said that compulsory inclusion in the scheme is a violation of the constitution and a disregard for civil rights. State Employees and Teachers Organisation (SETO) Chairman and NGO Association State President Chavara Jayakumar pointed out that if both husband and wife are government employees, they have to pay double the premium. If one of the couple is in central government service, the family will get another medical insurance coverage. Although MEDiSEP is essential, it is not right to forcefully include employees in it.

MEDiSEP is the largest group medical insurance scheme in the country with over 30 lakh members, including government employees, pensioners and their dependents in the state. While an annual premium ranging from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 45,000 is required to join a medical insurance scheme, MEDiSEP provides services for just Rs. 6,000. However, many people complain that they do not get adequate service. A pensioner said that he is afraid to go to the hospital with his MEDiSEP card. MEDiSEP cardholders are considered second-class customers in many private hospitals. The government should also contribute an equal share to the amount paid by the employees. Only then can the best treatment be ensured. When MEDiSEP is renewed, steps should be taken to include the government's share and empanel the best hospitals.