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Delhi High Court

Kumari Priya And Anr vs Employees State Insurance Corporation ... on 16 April, 2019

Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2019 DEL 613

Author: Manmohan

Bench: Manmohan

Appl.Side-5
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*    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+      W.P.(C) 4444/2016

       KUMARI PRIYA AND ANR            ..... Petitioners
                    Through Mr. Ashok Aggarwal, Advocate

                       versus

       EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE
       CORPORATION & ORS                 ..... Respondents
                    Through  Ms. Shyel Trehan, Amicus
                             Curiae with Ms. Sonali Malik,
                             Advocate.
                             Ms. Shiva Lakshmi, CGSC with
                             Mr. Siddharth Singh, Mr.
                             Ruchir R. Rai, Mr. Sanjeev
                             Uniyal with Mr. Dhawal
                             Uniyal, Advocates for UOI.
                             Mr. Yakesh Anand with Mr.
                             Nimit Mathur, Advocates and
                             Dr. Naresh Arora, AD (D) and
                             Mr. Dhruv Prasad UDC for
                             ESIC.
                             Mr. Ramesh Singh, Standing
                             Counsel (Civil) with Mr.
                             Chirayu Jain, Advocate for
                             GNCTD.
                             Mr. Anand Verma and Mr.
                             Shwetank Singh and Mr.
                             Tanveer Oberoi Advocates for
                             AIIMS.
                             Mr. Rajshekhar Rao with Mr.
                             Kotla Harshvardhan and Ms.
                             Mansi Sood, Advocate for
                             Sanofi Genzyme.


W.P.(C) 4444/2016                              Page 1 of 4
 %                               Date of Decision: 16th April, 2019

CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN

                           JUDGMENT

MANMOHAN, J: (Oral)

1. Present writ petition has been filed by Kumari Priya. As the petitioner-patient is suffering from a rare genetic disorder named Gaucher disease Type-1, she seeks extension of medical cover for life saving Enzyme Replacement Therapy on the ground that her father is insured with Employees State Insurance Corporation (for short 'ESIC').

2. In the present writ petition, it has been averred that ESIC had denied medical treatment to the petitioner citing Clause 5.1 of the ESIC Decisions on Medical Services-July, 2014 inasmuch as it imposed a ceiling limit of Rs.10 lacs per beneficiary per year. She has also challenged Clause 5.3 of the ESIC Decisions on Medical Services-July, 2014.

3. During the pendency of the present writ petition, the impugned Clause 5.1 has been amended by way of a Circular dated 07 th November, 2016 wherein it has been stipulated that for all the cases where expenditure incurred/to be incurred is more than Rs.10 lacs per beneficiary, the same shall be examined on case to case basis by a Committee constituted by ESIC Headquarter office and a decision with the approval of Chairman ESI Corporation shall be taken.

4. Thereafter, the petitioner's case was placed before the said Committee. The said Committee found the petitioner eligible for W.P.(C) 4444/2016 Page 2 of 4 treatment. The Committee's report dated 12th July, 2018 is reproduced hereinbelow:-

               "Name of Patient                Priya
               Father's Name                   Mr.Raj Bali
               Age                             15 years
               Gender                          Female
               Insurance No.                   6910928780
               Diagnosis                       Gaucher's Disease

The above case was discussed in the meeting and all the documents were reviewed. This child has been diagnosed as Gaucher's disease Type-I in November, 2015 based on clinical examination, investigations and as per prescription from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deptt. of Paediatrics, New Delhi and the treatment was started in July, 2016.

The prescribed drug (Cerezyme) is being procured by the ESICH, Manesar, Haryana and is being administered at Deptt. of Pediatrics, ESIC Hospital, Manesar, Haryana..

As per the published literature the Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) is beneficial in these cases to ameliorate their symptoms and signs. Such patients may lead near normal life if proper treatment is started at any early age and continued uninterruptedly. Hence, the committee recommends that the treatment of this patient to be continued as before.

The Committee further recommends that a progress report be maintained at level of treating hospital/RD to assess the response to Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT). For this a detailed Performa & a diary card have been framed by the department of Pediatrics, ESIC PGIMSR, Basaidarapur, New Delhi (proforma enclosed). The same may be asked by the ESIC Hqrs. Office at any time.

As per documents, this patient is eligible for SST treatment as per ESIC eligibility criteria vide circulars dated 07.11.2016 & 15.12.2016."

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners states that the petitioners are receiving medical treatment in accordance with the aforesaid decision.

6. The respondent-ESIC is directed to comply with the aforesaid recommendation of the Committee and grant medical treatment to the petitioner.

7. With the aforesaid direction, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

MANMOHAN, J APRIL 16, 2019 js W.P.(C) 4444/2016 Page 4 of 4