Charitable hospitals to cover ESIC beneficiaries

New Delhi: Charitable hospitals across the country will be empanelled to provide healthcare services to beneficiaries of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) as the government moves to converge it with Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Charitable hospitals, which are usually charitable organisations or non-profit corporations, do not earn profits for their owners.

The convergence will help expand ESIC beneficiaries' access to quality healthcare.

"This initiative will benefit over 14.43 crore ESI beneficiaries and their families, providing them with greater access to quality and comprehensive medical care across India," said a Ministry of Labour & Employment note.

The initiative will provide ESIC beneficiaries access to secondary and tertiary medical services at more than 30,000 AB-PMJAY-empanelled hospitals across the country with no financial cap on treatment costs.

"This partnership will not only enhance the accessibility of healthcare services but also ensure that treatment expenses are fully covered, making healthcare easily accessible and affordable for all beneficiaries," the note said.

Last month, the ESIC Medical Benefit Council approved the convergence scheme.

Medical benefits to ESIC beneficiaries under the existing scheme, available at 165 hospitals, 1,590 dispensaries, 105 dispensary-cum-branch offices and around 2,900 empanelled private hospitals, will continue.