ESIC network up from 393 Districts to 674 Districts now: Union Minister
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, OCT 30, 2024: IN a momentous event coinciding with Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched, inaugurated, and laid the foundation stone of multiple healthcare projects worth over Rs. 12,850 crore at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi yesterday. These initiatives signify a substantial boost to healthcare infrastructure across India, aligned with the Prime Minister's mission of ensuring quality healthcare services nationwide. Notably, seven of these projects pertain to the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, benefiting a vast segment of workers and their families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated ESIC Hospital in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and laid the foundation for 06 additional ESI hospitals across the country. Collectively, these projects are worth Rs. 1,641 crore and will enhance healthcare access for approximately 55 lakh ESI beneficiaries and their families.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister highlighted the unprecedented progress made in India's healthcare sector over the past decade, contrasting it with the limited achievements in the previous six to seven decades and said, "In the last 10 years, we have seen a record number of new AIIMS and medical colleges being established". Referring to yesterday's occasion, the Prime Minister said that hospitals were inaugurated in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Prime Minister also mentioned the foundation stone laying for new hospitals in Narsapur and Bommasandra in Karnataka, Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, Achitapuram in Andhra Pradesh, and Faridabad in Haryana. "Additionally, work has begun on the new ESIC Hospital in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and a new hospital was inaugurated in Indore", he added.
Speaking during the event, Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the transformative impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, which has integrated healthcare as a cornerstone of India's development strategy.
He said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has linked health with development, crafting a 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' health model that ensures healthcare is accessible, affordable, and available to every citizen."
Highlighting the substantial growth in ESIC's services during the past decade, Dr. Mandaviya stated, "ESIC network has expanded from 393 districts in 2014 to 674 districts across the country. Where under 2 crore families benefitted from health security before 2014, that number has now nearly doubled to almost 4 crore families yesterday."
He added, "Similarly, the number of ESIC beneficiaries has almost doubled in the last 10 years, increasing from less than 8 crore in 2014 to about 15 crore in 2024. This underscores the success of the government's efforts in improving quality healthcare for India's workforce."
Dr. Mandaviya stated that, in the coming days, Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will be integrated with Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). He mentioned that this integration will expand healthcare access for ESIC beneficiaries by enabling them to seek treatment at AB-PMJAY empanelled hospitals nationwide.
The six new ESI hospitals, for which the foundation stones were laid yesterday, will offer modern facilities and essential medical services:
1. Bommasandra, Karnataka - 200 bedded ESI hospital
2. Narsapur, Karnataka - 100 bedded ESI hospital
3. Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh - 100 bedded ESI hospital
4. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 100 bedded ESI hospital
5. Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh - 30 bedded ESIS hospital
6. Faridabad, Haryana - Upgraded ESIC Medical College and Hospital, with additional 500 beds, expanding its capacity from 650 to 1150 beds
Additionally, the 300 bedded ESIC Hospital at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is designed to be expandable to 500 beds. It will benefit around 14 lakh Insured Persons and beneficiaries.
These ESIC health facilities will provide modern healthcare facilities such as Modular Operation Theatre Complexes, Intensive Care Units, Labour Room Complexes, NICU, PICU, and advanced imaging services. Each facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, including liquid medical oxygen plants, CSSD/TSSU units, and Nurse Call systems, catering to both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals & Fertilizers, J P Nadda, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Ayush & Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel and Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje were present on the occasion among others.
