Parliament Question: Expansion of ESIC Medical Facilities in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5884 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 EXPANSION OF ESIC MEDICAL FACILITIES IN TAMIL NADU 5884. SHRI MANI A: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has assessed the availability and accessibility of ESIC medical facilities for insured workers in Tamil Nadu, particularly in districts with growing industrial activity and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether it is a fact that workers and beneficiaries from Dharmapuri district are currently required to travel to distant districts to avail treatment at ESIC hospitals and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has received any proposal or representation for establishing an ESIC hospital or upgrading an ESIC dispensary into a full-fledged hospital in Dharmapuri district and if so, the details and outcome thereof; (d) whether there is any proposal to increase bed capacity, introduce specialised departments and modernise ESIC hospitals in Tamil Nadu to cater to the needs of rising number of insured workers and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the timeline for expanding ESIC healthcare infrastructure in underserved districts, such as Dharmapuri? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has taken steps to improve medical facilities for insured workers in Tamil Nadu. Contd..2/-::2:: At present, there are 11 ESI Hospitals in Tamil Nadu. In addition, a network of 241 ESI dispensaries is operational across the State to cater to the needs of insured workers of Tamil Nadu. Further, ESIC has sanctioned setting up of six new 100- bedded Hospitals in Tamil Nadu at Thoothukudi, Sriperumbudur, Kanyakumari, Dindigul, Erode and Chengalpet with a view to improving accessibility and availability of medical services. In Dharmapuri district, at present, 2 ESI Dispensaries are operational. The nearest ESI Hospitals are located at Salem and Hosur in Krishnagiri district. Additionally, ESI Hospital, Tiruppur is also accessible at an approximate distance of 160 km. ESIC accords approval for establishing an ESIC Hospital/dispensary or upgrading an existing Hospital/dispensary with the consent of the respective State Governments. No proposal for setting up of ESI hospital or upgrading an ESI dispensary into a full-fledged hospital in the Dharmapuri district has been received from Government of Tamil Nadu. Modernisation of ESI hospitals is a continuous process. ESI hospitals provide multi-specialty/ secondary care medical services in various specialties like Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics etc. Critical In-patient services are provided through ICU/HDU facilities in ESI Hospitals. The range of medical services provided covers preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. To cater to the increasing number of insured workers, ESIC has approved enhancement of bed strength of ESIC Medical College & Hospital KK Nagar, Chennai from 550 to 1000 beds in 2023. *****