ESI scheme to be implemented in entire country by end of this year

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19

In a major push to beef up the health infrastructure for workers, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will implement the ESI Scheme in the entire country by the end 2022.

In a meeting on Sunday chaired by Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav, the ESIC also decided to set up 23 new 100-bedded hospitals across the country, including four hospitals in Haryana at Hisar, Sonepat, Ambala and Rohtak.

Besides, five doctors’ dispensaries will be opened at 62 places, including two in Haryana and 12 in Delhi.

“The decisions taken today will augment the medical care and service delivery mechanism across the country,” Yadav said.

Yadav has reportedly focused on giving momentum to buffing up medical and welfare related measures for the workers. Many more additions in welfare-related measures are in the pipeline to be rolled out.

Presently, ESI Scheme is fully implemented in 443 districts and partially implemented in 153 districts, whereas 148 districts are not covered under ESI Scheme.

By the end of this year, the partially implemented and non-implemented districts across the country will be fully covered.

Also, it was decided to establish Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Departments at three ESIC Medical College & Hospitals at Faridabad, Sanathnagar (Hyderabad) and KK Nagar (Chennai). It will be for the first time that such services will be made available at ESIC-owned facility.

ESIC will also launch certificate courses in 10 disciplines for healthcare link workers, as a pilot project in these medical colleges.

This is to fulfil the growing need for skilled manpower in healthcare sectors and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of skilled manpower.

Yadav said as setting up new hospitals takes time, ESIC has decided to allow insured workers and their family members to avail cashless medical care services through Ayushman Bharat PMJAY empaneled hospitals in all areas where ESI Scheme is partially implemented or to be implemented or where ESIC existing health care facilities are limited.

Beneficiaries of ESI Scheme in 157 districts are already availing cashless medical care through this tie-up arrangement.

During the meeting, Yadav informed that 6400 vacancies for different posts have been advertised by ESIC in last eight months which includes more than 2000 doctors/teaching faculty.