ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has directed State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLCIP) to improve its policy on medical tests before issuance of Life Insurance policies to prospecting policyholders.

He asked SLICP to constitute panel of doctors who should suggest as to what were most prevalent and common diseases in Pakistan and what tests should be conducted before issuance of policy.

President gave these orders in view of fact that number of representations were being filed with him by insurance companies as well as citizens in cases where insurance companies were denying payment of death insurance claims to family members of insured policyholders on ground that they had willfully hidden ailments at time of obtaining policy, President Secretariat Press Wing said in press release.

Payments were being refused despite fact that policies had been issued after policyholders had been declared medically fit by authorised medical officers as well as field officers of insurance companies.

President issued directives while rejecting two separate representations filed by SLICP against decisions of the Wafaqi Mohtasib directing it to pay Rs 3.68 million to family members of two policyholders to whom SLICP had denied payment on account of them hiding pre-insurance ailments.