Center to Open its Underutilized ESIC Hospitals for Common People

In a bid to increase healthcare coverage for the common people, the union government has decided to allow non-Insured Persons (IPs) to avail medical services from the underutilized ESIC hospitals after paying nominal user charges. The ESI Corporation during its 176th meeting held on Wednesday decided to allow non-IPs to avail medical services from its underutilized ESIC hospitals after levying user charges at a subsidized cost of Rs. 10 for OPD consultation and at 25 percent of CGHS package rates for admitted patients. It was also decided to provide medicines on actual rate initially for one year on pilot basis. “It will immensely help common people get the quality medical care at very low cost. Besides, it will ensure full utilization of resources of hospital for people’s cause,” a press release from Union Ministry of Labor said.

Already recruitment has begun to fill 5200 posts in ESIC’s various categories like Social Security Officer, Insurance Medical Officer Grade-II, Junior Engineers, Teaching Faculty, Paramedical and Nursing Cadre, UDC and Steno etc. To meet the shortage of specialist and super specialist doctors in some of the ESIC Hospitals, the ESIC has approved hiring of full-time contractual specialists and super specialists in the department of anesthesia, medicine, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, cardiology, nephrology and medical oncology through open tenders. Meanwhile, keeping in view the rise in the National Floor Level Minimum Wages to Rs 176, it was decided in the meeting to enhance the exemption limit for payment of employees’ share of contribution from Rs. 137 to Rs. 176. – Business Standard