Lok Sabha Question No. 3823 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Upgradation of ESI Hospitals
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3823

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## UPGRADATION OF ESI HOSPITALS

## 3823. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any plan to upgrade Employees' State Insurance (ESI) hospitals into multi-speciality facilities in the country to reduce dependence on private empanelled hospitals and enhance healthcare for workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the manner in which the Government plans to utilise unused land adjoining  ESI  hospital  buildings  for  infrastructure  development, particularly in Gujarat;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government to ensure adequate qualified staff and state-of-the-art facilities in ESI hospitals for specialised care;
- (d) the manner in which the Government plans to ease the burden on general hospitals by expanding ESI hospital services and capaci ties; and
- (e) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to simplify the process of accessing medical care for workers holding ESI cards?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) to (e): In  order  to  provide  good  quality  medical  services  to  its beneficiaries, Employees  State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is continuously making efforts to develop in - house specialty and superspecialty  services  by  incorporating  modern  technologies  in  ESI hospitals itself. Some of the measures taken are enhancement of bed strength, procurement of advanced medical equipments, establishing the intensive care unit (ICU) / high dependency unit (HDU) facilities as per ESIC guidelines, establishing new hospitals, use of unused land for upgradation and expansion of hospital infrastructure as per needs and demands, upgradation of  user-friendly  app  for  OPD  appointments  in order  to  streamline  registration,  reduce  waiting  time,  and  enhance patient convenience etc.

The major steps taken by ESIC to simplify the access of medical care for ESI card holders are as under:

- (i) An upgraded, user-friendly ESIC Heath Connect (AAA+) App has been made available for Insured Persons (IPs) and beneficiaries, enabling self-registration for OPD appointments.
- (ii) Collaboration with Ayushmaan Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna  (PMJAY)  to  provide  secondary  and  tertiary  care  medical services to ESI beneficiaries through PMJAY empanelled hospitals in the country at places where ESI medical services are not adequately available.
- (iii)  Enhancement  of  rates  of  benefits  for  Permanent  Disablement Benefit (PDB) / Dependents' Benefits (DB) Beneficiaries.
- (iv) Aadhar based authentication of IPs and beneficiaries on voluntary basis has been adopted for providing social security benefits, including medical and cash benefits to beneficiaries.
- (v)  For  providing  hassle  -  free  services  to  Insured  Persons  (IPs)  / Insured Women (IW), an online portal / facility has been started for submission of cash benefits claims under ESI scheme.

Recruitment  of  doctors  and  staff  in  ESI  hospitals  is  a continuous process. ESIC has recently issued offer of appointment to 388 selected candidates for joining the post of IMO Gr-II in various ESIC  Institutions  across  the  country.  ESIC  has  also  recruited  2047 Nursing Officers. Further, offer of appointment have been issued to 223 candidates for the post of Assistant Professor in various specialties.

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