Medical assurance: Employees welfare body collects Rs210m in two years

Aims to construct hospital in Korangi Town

ISLAMABAD:

In just the last two years, the Islamabad Employees Social Security Institution (IESSI) has collected Rs210 million from private sector employers in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The primary focus of the institution is to benefit employees and their dependents working in various private sector businesses such as factories and shops. The institution collects a fiscal contribution of six per cent of a business’ earning every year under the Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance 1965. The contribution is collected only from those businesses having more than 10 employees.

The IESSI came under the control of the ICT administration in 2013, prior to which the institution was under the management of the provincial government of Punjab.

Rabia Aurangzeb, vice-commissioner of the institution told The Express Tribune that IESSI had collected Rs210 million from over 700 employers in the last two years.

The official said that the institution collected almost Rs14 million every month, which was higher, compared to the amount collected by the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) from the whole province.

She said that IESSI had issued notices to those employers who were reluctant to pay the six per cent. “If they continue to violate, their cases will be forwarded to courts,” Aurangzeb added.

The vice commissioner said that the institution would also set up a Social Security Hospital (SSH) in Korang Town and a seven-kanal plot had already been donated for its construction. The official said that the PC-1 of the project was in process and construction of the hospital would be completed within two years.

The Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Zulfiqar Haider, has ordered to expedite the project, she added.

Aurangzeb highlighted reluctance on part of business owners to register with the institution and concealing information as some of the challenges faced by IESSI.

She added that some employers were also unaware about the payment of the six per cent amount.

Requesting not to be identified, owner of a store in the capital who employees over 10 individuals told The Express Tribune that he was paying handsome salaries to his employees and there was no reason to pay the six per cent.

Dr Farzana Ahmed, who heads the medical wing of IESSI said that so far the department had provided for the treatment of 122,812 employees.

Since March 2013 the institution has established five dispensaries functioning in various parts of the city.

Besides, many patients were referred to government hospitals such as the Pakistan Institute of Medial Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

Citing an example of the work the medical department was doing she said Ubaid Ahmed, 12, whose father works at a local factory, was registered with the IESSI availed medical benefits after he was diagnosed with Common Variable Immunodeficiency CVID.

The doctor said that the patient had approached the institution adding his total annual medical expenses were Rs300,000.

She further explained that there was a medical board comprising of six consultant doctors who were supposed to ascertain treatment of chronic patients. “I have no words to appreciate my employer who assured treatment of my son after he registered with the IESSI, said Muhammad Iqbal, Ubaid’s father.

Iqbal believes that the system was excellent and majority of the employees could benefit from it.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2015.