The Ombudsman of the Kerala-Lakshadweep region of the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) has informed the Ayurveda community in Kerala that his office will try to bring all kinds of Ayurveda treatments under medical insurance coverage.
 
He was speaking in a meeting organised by Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers’ Organisation of India (AMMOI) to felicitate him for winning the excellence award from government of India.

Referring to some minor cases, P K Vijayakumar, the Ombudsman, pointed out that the insurance companies have to be sensitized about the various treatments available in the traditional system and pressures should come from the side of the government. All the medical claims need to be reimbursed and most of the beneficiaries are poorest of the poor in the society. He said, in certain rejected claim cases, the Ombudsman’s office has awarded ex-gratia payments to the parties.

According to him, several insurance companies neglect to reimburse the claims by arguing that 50 per cent of the Ayurveda treatments are not diseases, but are ‘treatments for pleasures’ or ‘sukha chikitsa’. This type of treatments cannot be reimbursed as claimed by the companies, said the Ombudsman.

He said there should be a concerted effort from the side of the Ayurveda community, especially from the side of hospital managements to get the treatments covered under health schemes. The north Indian insurance companies are showing a step-motherly attitude towards Ayush systems. A solution for this neglect can be found through awareness by industry, hospitals and government, said the Ombudsman.

Member of Parliament, C N Jayadevan said no insurance company is giving much importance for Ayurveda treatments for medical reimbursement. His own application for reimbursement of medical expenses has so far not entertained by a company from New Delhi. The member said he will try to bring the demand of the Ayurveda community with regard to medical claims for Ayurveda treatments to the attention of the Union government.
 
Dr Ramanathan, general secretary of AMMOI, while welcoming the audience said, there are 54 insurance companies in the country. Out of this, only 24 companies are considered to be giving benefits of health schemes to the people. But Ayurveda treatment claims are cleared by only eight companies, and that too for treatments in government hospitals.

Dr. Ramanathan has given a memorandum to the Member of Parliament in this regard. Dr P K Krishnakumar, managing director of Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, presided over the meeting.