Parliament Question: Cancellation of New ESIC Clinics in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3845 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 CANCELLATION OF NEW ESIC CLINICS IN KERALA 3845. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a)whether any permission or approval granted for establishment of new Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) clinics/dispensaries in Kerala have been cancelled, withdrawn or kept pending during the last five years and the current year; (b)if so, the details thereof including the location, date of approval, date of cancellation/withholding and the specific reasons therefor; (c)whether any proposal for setting up of new ESIC clinics, hospitals or medical/AYUSH institutions, ayurveda medical colleges have been received from the State Government of Kerala or any Member of Parliament; (d)if so, the details thereof along with present status of such proposals, location-wise; and (e)the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expedite approval and ensure expansion of ESIC medical facilities in Kerala? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) & (b): The in-principle approvals, granted earlier, for establishment of 08 ESI dispensaries in Kerala have been withdrawn on 20.02.2026. These dispensaries could not be operationalized for more than three years from the date of approval due to non- availability of suitable land/premises and non-sanction of required manpower by the State Government of Kerala. The details are at Annexure-I. (c) & (d): No proposal has been received from the Government of Kerala for setting up of new ESIC clinics, hospitals or medical/AYUSH institutions, ayurveda medical colleges. However two proposals have been received from Members of Parliament. Details are at Annexure- II Contd..2/-:: 2 :: (e): At present, ESIC medical services in Kerala are being provided through 9 ESIS Hospitals, 3 ESIC Hospitals, 147 ESIS Dispensaries and 2 Diagnostic Centres (DCBOs). In addition, 54 private hospitals are empanelled for providing super-speciality treatment and 46 hospitals for speciality treatment to ESI beneficiaries in the State. ESIC has already accorded establishment of a 100-bedded ESIC Hospital in Idukki district of Kerala, which will further strengthen and expand ESIC medical facilities in the State. ** *****ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3845 FOR 16.03.2026 BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING CANCELLATION OF NEW ESIC CLINICS IN KERALA. Sl. No. State District Location Date of Date of withdrawal approval 1. Kerala Wayanad Sulthan Bethary 18.02.2019 20.02.2026 2. Kerala Wayanad Mananthavady 18.02.2019 20.02.2026 3. Kerala Kozhikode Balusseri 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 4. Kerala Pathanamthitta Ranni 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 5. Kerala Palakkad Kottaanad 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 6. Kerala Kozhikode Thamarasseri 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 7. Kerala Ernakulam Koothattukulam 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 8. Kerala Thiruvananthapuram Venjaramoodu 02.06.2021 20.02.2026 Source: ESIC HQ.ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3845 FOR 16.03.2026 BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING CANCELLATION OF NEW ESIC CLINICS IN KERALA. Name of Hon’ble Member of Proposals received by ESIC Remarks Parliament Shri N.K. Premachandran, Upgradation of ESIC Model The proposal for Hon’ble Member of & Super Speciality Hospital, establishment of ESIC Parliaments, Lok Sabha Asramam, Kollam into a Medical College at Kollam Medical College. has been approved in the 196th meeting of the ESIC Corporation. Shri Kodikunnil Suresh, Establishment of a full- The existing ESIC AYUSH Hon’ble Member of fledged Ayurveda Medical Policy does not provide for Parliaments, Lok Sabha College at ESIC Hospital, establishment of AYUSH Ezhukone, Kollam, Kerala Medical Colleges. The policy, however, provides for establishment of a 50-bedded ESIC AYUSH Hospital within an existing 500- bedded ESIC Allopathic Hospital on co-location basis. Source: ESIC HQ. *****