Question : MEDICAL FACILITIES UNDER ESIC

(a) whether the registered workers in the unorganised sector living below poverty line (BPL) are allowed to get medical facilities in empanelled hospitals of Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) by paying user charges under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to amend the Employee State Insurance Act, 1948 and to take other measures for providing the said facility;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of people likely to be benefited as a result of this;

(e) whether the Government has also any proposal to increase the Pay-limit criteria for the ESI beneficiaries; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH)

(a) & (b) As per provisions under Sections 73A to 73F of the Employees’ State Insurance Act,1948, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a ‘Scheme for other beneficiaries’ by opening of under-utilized ESI Hospitals having bed occupancy of less than 60 per cent for medical facilities to non-Insured Persons (IPs). Under the Scheme, registered workers in the unorganized sector, living below poverty line under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, can also avail medical facilities on payment of user charges.

(c) & (d) Not applicable in view of reply to parts (a) & (b) above.

(e) & (f) No such proposal is under consideration of the Government.