**Executive Summary**
The document is a statement to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 21, to be answered on February 2, 2026, regarding delays in the operationalization of Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) dispensaries in Andhra Pradesh. The statement addresses concerns about the "in-principle" approval for opening 17 ESIS dispensaries and the subsequent delay in their operationalization. The statement clarifies the roles of ESIC and the State Government in the process, where ESIC provides infrastructure and monetary support, and the State Government handles the sanctioning of posts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* ESIC accords approval for new dispensaries with the State Government's consent.
* ESIC provides infrastructural and monetary support.
* The respective States/UTs carry out the operation and management of dispensaries under Section 58 of the ESI Act, 1948 (subsumed in the Code on Social Security, 2020).
* **Dispensary Approvals:**
* ESIC accorded "in-principle" approval to set up 17 dispensaries in Andhra Pradesh during 2016-2021.
* The 17 dispensaries include 5 one-doctor dispensaries, 7 two-doctor dispensaries, 3 three-doctor dispensaries, and 2 five-doctor dispensaries.
* **State Government's Role:**
* The major steps involved for functionalization of these dispensaries are sanctioning the medical and non-medical posts by the State Government and provision of locations by ESIC.
* **Progress on Dispensary Operationalization:**
* The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has sanctioned medical, para-medical and nursing staff for the early operationalization of 5 dispensaries.
* The 5 dispensaries are located at Tirupati District at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), Satyavedu, Varadaiahpalem, Naidupeta and one dispensary in Nellore District at Muthukuru.
* The process for sanctioning staff in the remaining 12 dispensaries has been initiated.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
* **Impact**: ESIC is responsible for according approval for new dispensaries with the State Government's consent, providing infrastructural and monetary support.
* **Action Required**: ESIC needs to continue providing the infrastructural support and work alongside the state government.
**Stakeholder:** State Government of Andhra Pradesh
* **Impact**: The State Government of Andhra Pradesh is responsible for the sanctioning of medical and non-medical posts for the dispensaries and the early operationalization of 5 dispensaries.
* **Action Required**: The state government has to continue sanctioning the medical and non-medical posts for the remaining 12 dispensaries.
**Stakeholder:** Industrial Workers and their Families in Andhra Pradesh
* **Impact**: Industrial workers and their families in Andhra Pradesh will benefit from the operationalization of the dispensaries, gaining access to medical facilities under the ESIS.
* **Action Required**: No direct action required; they are beneficiaries of the scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS): A scheme under which the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) approves the opening of dispensaries.
Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): Provides infrastructural and monetary support for ESIS dispensaries.
ESI Act, 1948: Act under which the States / UTs manage the operation of dispensaries (Section 58), subsumed in Code on Social Security, 2020.
Andhra Pradesh: The State where ESIS dispensaries are planned and where the State Government is responsible for sanctioning medical and non-medical posts.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The ministry to which the question is addressed regarding the delay in operationalizing ESIS dispensaries.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 21
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
DELAY IN OPERATIONALIZATION OF DISPENSARIES UNDER ESIS
*21. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government is aware that despite the Employees’
State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) having accorded “in-principle”
approval for opening 17 dispensaries under Employees State
Insurance Scheme (ESIS), the said dispensaries are yet to become
operational;
(b)if so, the reasons therefor;
(c)whether the delay is due to the non-sanction of medical and non-
medical posts by the State Government despite repeated follow-
ups by ESIC, if so, the details thereof; and
(d)the details of the steps being taken by the Government to ensure
early sanction of said posts by the State Government so that the
long-pending ESIS dispensaries can be made functional for the
benefit of industrial workers and their families in Andhra Pradesh?
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
* *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 21 FOR 02.02.2026 BY SHRI
MADDILA GURUMOORTHY REGARDING DELAY IN
OPERATIONALIZATION OF DISPENSARIES UNDER ESIS.
(a) to (d): Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) accords
approval for opening of new dispensaries with the consent of the
concerned State Government. ESIC provides the infrastructural and
monetary support whereas the operation and management of
dispensaries is carried out by the respective States / UTs under
Section 58 of ESI Act, 1948 (subsumed in Code on Social Security,
2020).
ESIC accorded “in-principle” approval to set up total 17
dispensaries (5-one doctor dispensaries, 7- two doctor dispensaries,
3- three doctor dispensaries and 2-five doctor dispensaries) in
Andhra Pradesh, during the period from 2016 to 2021. The major
steps involved for functionalization of these dispensaries are
sanctioning of the medical and non-medical posts by the State
Government and provision of locations by ESIC.
The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has sanctioned
Medical, Para-Medical and Nursing staff for early operationalization
of 5 dispensaries, on priority basis, located at Tirupati District at
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), Satyavedu, Varadaiahpalem,
Naidupeta and one dispensary in Nellore District at Muthukuru. Also,
the process for sanctioning of Staff in remaining 12 dispensaries has
been initiated.
*****