We reproduce below a letter dated 20th June, 2020  from New Delhi OERS Optees and Pensioners Welfare Association to Regional Director,New Delhi, with copy to the Governor, RBI  requesting therein to restore supply of prescribed and essential medicines arbitrarily curtailed. We hope the Bank will act positively in the matter in view of the pandemic and will not force the retirees, who are required to stay at home as per guidelines issued by M/o Home affairs to visit dispensary for the purpose.

June 20, 2020

The Regional Director,
Reserve Bank of India,
Sansad Marg,
New Delhi – 110001.

Dear Sir,

MEDICAL FACILITIES –MAF-DISPENSARY FACILITY

1.You are aware of the fact that integral portion of the above scheme governing Medical Assistance Fund is the continuance of dispensary facilities as were available to the employee prior to retirement.  

  1. In view of the arrangements approved by the Central Office for home delivery of medicines, we advised our members to opt for the same to avoid visits to the dispensary. We have been shocked to learn that the management-once known to be ideal noble management- has, now , by taking advantage of the situation, in fact, curtailed the facilities. Reports received indicate that our members are not receiving even 50% of the medicines from vendors that they were getting earlier from the dispensary.
  2. It is not our opinion but medical experts throughout the globe uphold that persons after 60 years of age are required to replenish the deficiency in immunity by taking vitamins as curative medicines to survive.
  3. And, if they are denied what the existing prevailing facility provides, it amounts to unilateral curtailment and refusal of facility when in the shadow of pandemic these are a must for maintaining immunity to defeat the menace of Covid-19.
  4. Moreover, the retired employees have opted the facility to avoid going out but if the full quota of medicines that were being provided to them in the dispensary is denied, such aged persons would be forced to go out to purchase these medicines which in our opinion is uncalled for and avoidable imposition of punishment and contains danger of being afflicted with the dreaded virus.
  5. We, therefore, earnestly urge upon you to arrange for immediate restoration of supply of all medicines available in dispensary through courier/vendor or else permit the employees to visit dispensaries to have their medicines as they were getting prior to the spread of pandemic. We also state that there is no mention of such curtailment in arrangements approved by CO . It stands beyond reason to understand the curtailments enforced by the managements locally.
  6. In case, we do not receive information of restoration of full dispensary facility for supply of all the medicines including vitamins, ointments etc. that are curative and have been prescribed to the retired employees in age groups beyond 60 years, they shall be left with no alternative but to visit dispensaries as before to have medical treatment under MAF for which they had paid subscriptions.

We are also endorsing a copy of this letter to the respected Governor RBI for his kind consideration.

Yours faithfully,

President

Copy for information to Governor Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, Mumbai for kind consideration and direction to restore the scheme in full.

President