Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment addressed Lok Sabha questions regarding the modernization, upgrades, and establishment of new ESIC hospitals and dispensaries in Tamil Nadu. ESIC is actively working to enhance in-house services through modern technology, including increasing bed strength, procuring advanced equipment, establishing ICUs/HDUs, upgrading infrastructure, and improving the OPD appointment app. As of June 30, 2025, ESIC has identified hospitals for modernization and sanctioned six new hospitals in Tamil Nadu.
Key Points / Main Content:
Modernization and Upgradation Efforts:
* ESIC is focused on developing in-house specialty and super-specialty services in its hospitals by incorporating modern technologies.
* Measures include enhancing bed strength, procuring advanced medical equipment, and establishing ICU/HDU facilities.
* ESIC aims to upgrade hospital infrastructure using unused land and improve the user-friendly app for OPD appointments to streamline registration and reduce waiting times.
Modernization/Upgradation of Existing Hospitals in Tamil Nadu (January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025):
* ESI Hospital, K.K. Nagar, Chennai (1000 beds, established in 1991): Construction of oncology and nuclear medicine block assigned to RITES; completion target is 18 months. Funds allocated: 123.54 Cr. Funds released: Nil.
* ESI Hospital, Madurai (200 beds, established in 1971): Project is at the conceptual stage for demolition and reconstruction.
New ESIC Hospitals Sanctioned in Tamil Nadu:
* Six new ESIC hospitals have been sanctioned for establishment.
* Locations and bed strengths:
* Kanchipuram (Sriperumbudur): 100 beds
* Dindigul (Dindigul): 100 beds
* Thoothukudi (Tuticorin): 100 beds
* Kanyakumari (Kanyakumari): 100 beds
* Chengalpattu (Chengalpattu): 100 beds
* Erode (Erode): 100 beds
Staffing and Recruitment:
* Recruitment of doctors and staff is an ongoing process.
* ESIC recently issued appointment offers to 1323 candidates for various medical positions and recruited 2458 Nursing Officers.
* Steps are being taken to fill 832 Nursing Officer vacancies, 243 Assistant Professor vacancies, and 11 Dean vacancies.
* Deans/Medical Superintendents are authorized to hire contractual specialists, teaching faculty, and nursing/paramedical staff to address shortages.
Impact Analysis:
ESIC:
* Impact: Responsible for the modernization, upgradation, and establishment of new hospitals. Must allocate and manage funds for these projects.
* Action Required: Oversee the construction, demolition, and recruitment processes, and ensure adherence to project timelines.
Hospital Staff (Doctors, Nurses, and Paramedical Staff):
* Impact: Directly involved in the upgraded facilities and new hospitals, which could improve their working conditions and capabilities. Potential for increased workload during the transition and potential recruitment.
* Action Required: Adapt to new technologies and infrastructure, participate in training programs, and address staffing shortages through contractual hiring if authorized.
Patients:
* Impact: Will benefit from improved facilities, reduced waiting times, and access to specialized medical services.
* Action Required: Utilize the upgraded OPD appointment app for streamlined registration and provide feedback on services.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for labour and employment policies.
Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): A statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, responsible for providing social security and health insurance benefits to employees in India.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where modernization and upgradation of ESI hospitals are being carried out.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question regarding ESIC hospitals was raised.
SHRI C N ANNADURAI: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question regarding modernisation and upgradation of ESIC Hospitals.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Minister of State for Labour and Employment who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
ESI Hospital, K.K. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu: An ESI hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, undergoing modernization, including construction of an oncology and nuclear medicine block.
Insurance Medical Officer (IMO) Grade II: A position for which ESIC has recently recruited candidates for posting in different ESIC Hospitals and Medical Colleges.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2311
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
MODERNISATION AND UPGRADATION OF ESIC HOSPITALS
2311. SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
SHRI SELVAM G:
SHRI NAVASKANI K:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has
approved proposals to modernise and upgrade ESI hospitals in
various parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu;
(b)if so, the details of ESI hospitals selected for
modernisation/upgradation in Tamil Nadu, including name,
location, bed strength and year of establishment;
(c)the details of the nature of modernisation and upgradation
proposed and the timeline for their completion;
(d)the details of the funds allocated and released for the said
upgradation works in Tamil Nadu during the last three years and
the current year, hospital-wise;
(e)whether the Government is aware of any shortage of staff,
outdated equipment or infrastructure bottlenecks affecting the
performance of ESI hospitals in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details of
remedial measures taken by the Government; and
(f)whether there is any proposal to establish new ESI hospitals or
dispensaries in underserved districts of Tamil Nadu and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (f): Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is
continuously making efforts to develop in-house specialty and super-
specialty services by incorporating modern technologies in ESI
hospitals itself. Some of the measures taken to ensure quality and
timely healthcare are: enhancement of bed strength, procurement of
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
advanced medical equipment, establishing the intensive care unit
(ICU) / high dependency unit (HDU) facilities as per ESIC guidelines,
establishing new hospitals, use of unused land for upgradation and
expansion of hospital infrastructure as per needs and demands,
upgradation of user-friendly app for OPD appointments in order to
streamline registration, reduce waiting time and enhance patient
convenience etc. The details of ESIC hospitals identified for
modernization / upgradation since 01st January 2023 to 30.06.2025 in
Tamil Nadu is at Annexure-I. ESIC has also sanctioned 6 new
hospitals for setting up in Tamil Nadu. The details of such hospitals
are at Annexure-II.
Recruitment of doctors and staff in ESI hospitals is a
continuous process. ESIC has recently issued offer of appointment to
1323 candidates, selected for the post of Insurance Medical Officer
(IMO) Grade II, Specialist Gr II (Senior Scale/Junior Scale) and
Teaching Faculty for posting in different ESIC Hospitals and Medical
Colleges. ESIC has also recruited 2458 number of Nursing Officers.
Further, ESIC has also taken necessary steps to fill up 832 vacancies
of Nursing Officers, 243 vacancies of Assistant Professor and 11
vacancies of Dean. All Deans/Medical Superintendents of ESIC
Medical Institutions have been authorized to hire the contractual
Specialists/Teaching Faculty and Nursing & Paramedical Staff to
address the shortage, if any, as per requirement.
** *****ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2311 FOR 04.08.2025 BY SHRI C N ANNADURAI AND
02 OTHERS REGARDING MODERNISATION AND UPGRADATION OF ESIC
HOSPITALS.
ESI hospitals in Tamil Nadu identified for modernization during 01.01.2023 to 30.06.2025
S. Name of Bed Year of Date of completion Nature of Fund
No. Project Strengt Establishme Modernization Allocated &
h nt Released
1 ESI 1000 Taken over The project has been Construction of Fund
Hospital, from State: assigned to M/s oncology & Allocated:
K.K. 1991 RITES. Nuclear 123.54 Cr.
Nagar, medicine block Fund
Completion date: 18
Chennai Released:
months.
Nil
2 ESI 200 1971 Project is at Demolition and Fund
Hospital, Conceptual stage. reconstruction Allocation
Madurai as per new after
requirement approval of
Preliminary
Estimate.ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2311 FOR 04.08.2025 BY SHRI C N ANNADURAI AND
02 OTHERS REGARDING MODERNISATION AND UPGRADATION OF ESIC
HOSPITALS.
Details of new ESI hospitals sanctioned for setting up in Tamil Nadu
S. No. District Location Sanctioned beds
1 Kanchipuram Sriperumbudur 100
2 Dindigul Dindigul 100
3 Thoothukudi Tuticorin 100
4 Kanyakumari Kanyakumari 100
5 Chengalpattu Chengalpattu 100
6 Erode Erode 100
*****