Ernakulam: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here on Thursday in a key verdict stated that the 24-hour hospitalisation policy in order to avail the benefits of the insurance policy is an infringement of consumer rights. 

The bench comprising commission president D.B. Binu and Members Vaikom Ramachandran and R.N Sreevidhya pointed out that demanding 24 hours of hospitals in the time of modern technological advancements in the medical field and robotic surgeries violates the consumers' rights. 

The mother of John Milton, a Maradu native, had undergone surgery on her left eye at a private hospital in Ernakulam. The surgery was conducted without the need for any hospitalisation. Later, the policyholder approached the insurance company seeking a claim for the surgery. However, the insurance company dismissed his applications, over the rationale that the policyholder lacked hospitalisation for more than 24 hours. Following this only, Milton approached the consumer forum.

According to the commission, the policyholder is qualified for a medical claim if the treatment requires hospitalisation as well as utilising modern medical practices to complete treatment in the shortest amount of time. The commission also considered a circular presented by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) declaring that a certain injectable used during myopia treatment is covered by insurance. 

The court also observed that the insurance company had cleared an identical claim despite being aware of the policyholder's complaint. 

Following this, the commission directed the insurance company to pay Rs 57,720 to the policyholder within 30 days.