New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has granted approval for the establishment of 97 new ESI hospitals throughout the nation over the past decade, stated Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Monday.

In a written response in Lok Sabha today, Karandlaje disclosed that ESIC has also initiated the establishment of new ESI hospitals and dispensaries across the nation.

ESIC offers comprehensive medical services, including medical attendance, treatment, medications, dressings, specialist consultations, and hospitalization for Insured Persons and their families through a network of 165 ESI hospitals and 1,590 dispensaries nationwide.

Moreover, “tie-up arrangements have been established with public/private hospitals to provide cashless in-patient medical services to ESI beneficiaries.” This service can be accessed in instances where ESI hospitals or in-house medical care at a specific hospital are unavailable, as mentioned by the MoS.

Karandlaje also highlighted significant measures taken by ESIC to enhance and upgrade the facilities offered to its beneficiaries, including a partnership with Ayushmaan Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY).

“This initiative will deliver secondary and tertiary care medical services to ESI beneficiaries through PMJAY empanelled hospitals in regions lacking adequate ESI medical services,” stated the MoS.

She also indicated that the benefit rates have been increased for beneficiaries of the Permanent Disablement Benefits (PDB) and Dependents’ Benefits (DB) schemes.

Additionally, a new scheme has been sanctioned to provide medical care, including Super Specialty Treatment (SST), for retired beneficiaries who have contributed to ESIC but fell out of coverage before retirement.

ESIC has also introduced an online module to assist in updating or editing the details of insured persons (IPs) and their family members.

“Aadhar-based authentication for insured persons and their family members on a voluntary basis has been implemented to facilitate social security benefits, including medical and cash benefits for beneficiaries,” stated Karandlaje.

In addition, an online portal has been launched for submitting cash benefit claims under the ESI scheme. This initiative aims to offer seamless services to insured individuals, particularly women, Karandlaje concluded.