From Exclusion to Recognition: The Legal Battle Behind COVID Insurance Claims

When the COVID-19 pandemic smitten India, doctors all over the country—public and private alike—stride into the line of fire. They treated patients in overstuffed clinics, makeshift ICUs, and rural setups where safeguard was often minimal. Many lost their lives discharging these duties. Yet, for years, a heart wrenching reality continued: the families of private doctors were refused compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) Insurance Scheme, even though their service was no less prodigious.

This exclusion led to a long, determined legal battle. Families of deceased private practitioners approached the courts, arguing that sacrifice cannot be divided by employment category. The Supreme Court finally delivered the clarity India needed: private doctors who died while treating COVID-19 patients are equally entitled to insurance benefits under the PM scheme.

The judgement is more than just administrative rectification—it is appreciation. It appreciates that during the hardest days of the pandemic, private clinics, mini hospitals, and independent practitioners carried an enormous burden, particularly in areas where government infrastructure crumpled under the wave of cases. It endorses the service of doctors who often worked without sufficient PPE, without institutional support and without guaranteed compensation.

This judgment reinstates honour to the lives lost and brings pending relief to their families. More significantly, it sets a precedent: in times of national catastrophe, heroes cannot be classified by their employer. Their bravery deserves equal dignity, equal protection, and equal backing.

The legal triumph is a reminder that every life safeguarded—and every life missed—during COVID-19 had a story, an oblation, and a legacy. With this judgement, the country finally honours that spin-off with justice.