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'To Issue My UDID, I Was Ill-treated & Denied Access To My Documents at Hosp'

I asked them for evaluation papers and X-rays, and documents back from them, the hospital authorities refused.

Shivangi Agrawal
My Report
Published:
<div class="paragraphs"><p>Denied access to my own documents and ill-treated at Delhi's hospital</p></div>
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Denied access to my own documents and ill-treated at Delhi's hospital

Photo courtesy: The Quint

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Producer: Varsha Rani

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad

I am Shivangi, an artist and a Delhi-based consultant. I am a person with physical and locomotor disabilities.

I recently learnt how to drive and to be able to get a driver's licence, I need to have a Unique Disability Identity (UDID) certificate. So, there is a UDID website where I applied online.

The next step was to visit a government hospital that was certified to issue a disability certificate. The one that's closest to me is Dr Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan in Karkardooma (east Delhi).

I visited the hospital on 9 November and went through the medical examinations required. On 18 November, I was asked to come to the hospital again to meet the certificate issuing committee.

I had to undergone a physical examination again. I asked them why they needed to do the physical evaluation again, when it was done earlier.

When I questioned them, I was met with extremely rude and violent behaviour. The way they were talking to me was extremely dehumanising and condescending, as if, I didn't have enough knowledge about my own body and I didn't know my disability.

They gave me a disability percentage of 86 percent. It's really difficult if you have a really high percentage of disability to avail certain services.

For example, if you want to get a driver's licence, it is possible, but a little more difficult to get the licence. I will not be able to get health insurance, which was another reason to get a UDID.

When I am looking at the health insurances, they ask for disability which is below 80 percent, and if it's above 80 percent they will not give you health insurance.

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'Why Was My Disability Percentage Increased'?

I was not satisfied with their quick test procedures and the disability percentage that was provided to them. When I asked for a proper re-evaluation, my demand was denied.

It was a horrible experience and everytime I questioned or tried to reason with them, I was met with extremely rude replies.

Almost in a vengeful manner, they said, they will increase my disability percentage and they actually did that. They made it 89 percent and that was extremely appalling behaviour.

When I asked them for evaluation papers, my X-rays, and documents back from them, they refused.

How can I, as a patient or a person with disability not have access to my own documents, my own evaluations, and X-rays about my own body?

So, the next thing that I plan to do is file an official complaint in the UDID department for the empowerment of people with disabilities.

I have also approached the ministry of social justice and empowerment. I would also be, hopefully, filing a case in the high court.

The Quint reached out to the hospital for their response on the same.

Copy of the response from the hospital.

Photo courtesy: Chairman Disability Board

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