This story is from May 15, 2021

New medical hurdles for Delhi-based Air India retirees

The Covid second wave has turned Air India retirees living in Delhi into second class citizens, as far as medical benefits are concerned.
New medical hurdles for Delhi-based Air India retirees
MUMBAI: The Covid second wave has turned Air India retirees living in Delhi into second class citizens, as far as medical benefits are concerned. They now have to pay and purchase their "routine medicines" from one of the airline’s panel chemists and then apply for a reimbursement, which retirees allege, is a process that takes over a year. On the other hand, for their counterparts in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Cochin and Trivandrum the airline will home deliver their routine medicines, free of cost.

The discrepancy pertains to a particular aspect of Air India’s Contributory Family Medical Scheme for retirees. Under the scheme, "routine medicines’’ , like those for lifestyle/chronic conditions like diabetics, thyroid disorders, heart ailments etc, are paid for by the airline.
"We visit one of the Air India clinics where the Air India doctor makes a prescription of the routine medicine, which a panel chemist supplies for free and later claims the amount from Air India,’’ said an Air India retiree. But in the past few weeks, new, albeit temporary practices have been put in place, based on the city that the retiree resides in. Air India said the temporary practice was necessitated by the Covid second wave that drove up infectivity and fatalities.
Under the new scheme of things, Delhi is the worst city to reside in. On April 26, Air India’s Delhi-based retirees received a mail from Dr B Vivekanand, AI general manager-medical stating that the airline has decided to temporarily shut down all the Air India clinics operating in various parts of Delhi.
Only one clinic, that in GSD, near IGIA-Delhi airport, will remain functional. But what was worse was the second part of the letter. "Considering the lockdown, spread of infection and difficulties thereof, the retired employees can purchase their routine medicines and claim reimbursement…,’’ said the letter, adding that the practice will be in place till May 31.
Claiming reimbursement for medicines is easier said than done, say Air India retirees. Capt S S Panesar, former Air India director, flight safety said: ``Many reimbursement claim bills are pending for more than a year. How can the airline then tell retirees to purchase and submit the bill for reimbursement when they know its a long-drawn process? In case I buy medicines from chemist the same doctor may refuse to clear the bill saying that he has not approved these medicines. Why can’t Air India follow the policy followed in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Cochin, Trivandrum etc.’’

Air India retirees residing in Mumbai, for instance, can get their ``routine medicines’’ home delivered for a period of two months, said Dr. VD Turbadkar, Air India depth general manager-medical services in a mail sent on April 22 to Air India’s Mumbai-based retirees. ``In view of the pandemic, the AI medical services department, Mumbai has made arrangement to deliver regular medicines of retired employees at their residence by the nominated panel medical stores, in seven working days from receiving their e-mails,’’ said the letter.
Capt Panesar said: "The lone functioning Air India clinic, the one in GSD at Delhi airport terminal is very far off for most retirees. They will need to travel 30-40 kms to reach there, which isn’t advisable given the ongoing Covid second wave. Why can’t Air India issue directions to their panel chemists asking them to give the routine medicine to retirees as per their medical card, on credit. The chemists can then send the relevant claims, as usual, to the airline and get paid. This will give relief to retirees who are very old.”
Air India in response to a query sent by TOI said that ``the situational context varies from state to state, especially during a pandemic period like this. Depending on the logistics of resources and infrastructure and the commercial decision of chemists at different cities, the modus operandi of making medicine available for employees may differ at times.’’
No employee, however, is denied the medical facilities under any circumstances, the airline statement said. ``In fact, during any emergency, employees, both serving and retired, have been buying their urgent requirement of medicine and are subsequently reimbursed by the company at the earliest convenience,” it added.
"Air India has always accorded top-most priority to ensure welfare of its employees, including the superannuated employees. Medical benefits offered by Air India to its employees and family members as per entitlement match the best industry standards and practices. Any decision taken to ensure availability of medicines and other medical facilities are always taken in the best interest of the employees,’’ it said.
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