MP Wants ESI Hospitals Handed Over to ESIC

The Andhra Pradesh administration is currently considering a proposal from the Central Government to transfer management of ESI (Employee State Insurance) hospitals to the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). This move aims to enhance medical services for ESI beneficiaries in the state.

The Central Government’s request to the Andhra Pradesh government was formally made on January 2, 2023, by union minister of state for labour Rameswar Teli. The proposal seeks to transfer the administration of four ESI hospitals in Andhra Pradesh – located in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, and Vijayawada – to ESIC, in order to provide more adequate and efficient medical services for ESI beneficiaries in the unorganised sector.

Despite the formal request, the state government has yet to respond to the proposal, prompting concerns about the current standard of medical services provided in the ESI hospitals. The issue was raised by BJP MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, who emphasized the importance of swift consent from the state government for the transfer, in order to benefit insured individuals from the unorganised sector with accessible and quality healthcare services.

As of now, Visakhapatnam houses a 200-bed ESI hospital, with plans for a larger 400-bed hospital in Sheelanagar and a 30-bed facility in Atchutapuram currently in the works under the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

This proposed transfer of hospital management holds the potential to significantly improve healthcare services for ESI beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh. It is hoped that a decision from the Andhra Pradesh administration will be forthcoming in order to facilitate the transition and enhance medical services for those in the unorganised sector.

Historically, ESI hospitals have been administered by state governments, but with the potential transfer to ESIC, there is optimism for improved healthcare management and services for ESI beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh.

Overall, the transfer of ESI hospital administration to ESIC has the potential to positively impact the unorganised sector and improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for ESI beneficiaries in the state.