Parliament Question: ESIC Healthcare Facilities in Purulia District

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3644 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 ESIC HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN PURULIA DISTRICT 3644. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a)whether the Government is aware that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) covered workers in Purulia district face difficulties due to the absence of a full-fledged ESIC Hospital with adequate specialties, diagnostic facilities and round-the-clock services and if so, the reasons therefor; (b)whether the Government has any proposal to upgrade existing ESIC dispensaries in Purulia to a full ESIC Hospital, including sanctioned bed strength, specialist doctors, paramedical staff and modern diagnostic equipment and if so, the details thereof; (c)the details of status of proposals received from the Government of West Bengal regarding land allocation or support for establishing an ESIC Hospital in Purulia and whether delays at the State level that have affected project implementation; (d)the details of total number of ESIC hospitals, dispensaries and Insurance Medical Practitioner (IMP) units currently operational in West Bengal; and (e)whether the Government plans to expand ESIC healthcare infrastructure in underserved, industrially growing districts of the said State including Purulia and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): Expansion of ESIC healthcare infrastructure is a continuous process. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) accords approval for setting up of new ESI hospitals/dispensaries in an area in accordance with the norms of ESIC. Currently, the primary care services to the beneficiaries are being provided through a tie-up Service Dispensary -Purulia Town under ESI (Medical Benefit) Scheme. Contd..2/-:: 2 :: Purulia does not fulfil the prescribed ESIC norms regarding the minimum Insured Persons (IP) population required for establishing an ESI Hospital. Accordingly, there is no proposal is under consideration, at present, for setting up ESI Hospital at this location. Further, no proposal regarding land allocation for establishing an ESI Hospital in Purulia has been received from the Government of West Bengal. The total number of ESI Hospitals, dispensaries and Insurance Medical Practitioner (IMP) units currently operational in West Bengal is 14, 41 and 169 respectively. *****