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

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.

'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.

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