New Delhi, February 24 The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), which provides healthcare and other social security benefits to workers, launched a free annual medical check-up initiative for its over one crore members aged 40 years and above on Tuesday.
Employers are now required to conduct annual health screenings of workers aged above 40 years, as mandated by the new labour codes that were notified in November last year.
ESIC, which celebrated its 75th foundation day on Tuesday, has about 3.8 crore members under its health insurance scheme. Approximately 1 crore of these members are over 40 years old.
Union Labour & Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the free medical check-up facility and stated that this move would strengthen worker welfare.
Mandaviya emphasized that ESIC must continue to adopt a reform-and-perform approach and take collective "sankalps" (resolutions) to further improve service delivery.
He stressed the need to ensure the availability of medicines, equipment, and doctors across all ESIC hospitals, and called for minimizing referrals by strengthening in-house facilities. He suggested that ESIC should aim to match its standards with premier institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Currently, ESIC has a network of 166 hospitals, 17 medical colleges, and nearly 1,600 dispensaries.
Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani said, "With the implementation of the labour codes, ESIC's responsibilities have significantly expanded. This includes pan-India coverage, extending social security benefits to unorganized and gig workers, and providing annual health check-ups for workers above 40 years of age through ESIC facilities."
To mark the Platinum Jubilee of ESIC, a commemorative coin of Rs 75 was launched, along with a coffee table book showcasing its legacy and transformative initiatives.
Additionally, an agreement was signed between the National Health Authority and ESIC for the convergence of the ESI Scheme with the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which aims to strengthen coordinated healthcare delivery and expand access to quality services.
ESIC also signed an agreement with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to promote quality assurance and accreditation across ESIC healthcare facilities.
ESIC will observe a Special Services Fortnight from February 24 to March 10 to enhance outreach and bring healthcare, social security, and welfare services closer to insured workers.