Mangaluru: The delayed process of handing over the ESI Hospital in Mangaluru to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Union labour ministry causes concern among workers. After the director general of ESIC wrote multiple times, the state govt constituted an ESI Society, an essential prerequisite for ESIC to assume control of the ESI hospitals in the state. Since the process is yet to be completed, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said that he sought Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s support to expedite the process of transferring the hospital to ESIC.Capt Chowta said that during a meeting with the Union minister, he highlighted the various issues and challenges currently faced by the Mangaluru ESI Hospital. “I emphasised the urgent need for ESIC to take over the 100-bed hospital, which serves approximately 2.5 lakh insured individuals from Dakshina Kannada and surrounding districts, to ensure it is well-equipped to provide services,” the MP said.
A high-level team from ESIC’s headquarters in Delhi visited the ESI Hospital in Shivbagh, Mangaluru, to assess its facilities and issues in May last year. Assurances were given to upgrade the hospital and improve infrastructure. Meanwhile, Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath also met with labour minister Santosh Lad, urging swift action for the formation of the society. As a result, the state govt formed the necessary society, he said.“During the meeting with the Union minister, I pointed out that due to staff shortages, service disruptions were occurring at the hospital, hindering access to quality medical facilities for a large number of insured individuals and their families. I told the minister that if the ESIC takes direct control of the hospital, it would be possible to recruit sufficient staff and bring significant improvements in administrative and medical services. Responding to my request, the Union minister assured that the matter would be prioritised and necessary actions would be taken,” Capt Chowta said.
