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ESI scheme to cover drugs purchase, maintenance of equipment
New Delhi, Sept 18: Buoyed by the success of the revolving fund system for the purpose of specialty and super-specialty treatments in ESI hospitals, the labour ministry is contemplating extending the facility for purchase of drugs and dressings and maintenance of equipment.
New Delhi, Sept 18: Buoyed by the success of the revolving fund system for the purpose of specialty and super-specialty treatments in ESI hospitals, the labour ministry is contemplating extending the facility for purchase of drugs and dressings and maintenance of equipment.
Since the scope of the fund can be expanded only with the
consent of state governments, the Centre was awaiting their
response, Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma said inaugurating
a state labour and health ministers' conference here.
The government has so far received consent from seven states, he said. Referring to the shortcomings in the administration of the medical care system under the employees state insurance (ESI) scheme, Verma said there have been complaints regarding non-availability of both funds and drugs.
"There are problem areas which can be solved only by coordinated approach between the ESI corporation and various state governments," he said. About the complaints regarding non-availability of funds, the minister said that due to the ways and means position of the state governments, the funds made available were not reaching the ESI medical scheme at appropriate time.
On the non-availability of drugs, he felt this was because the liaison between the state government medical officers running the ESI scheme and the ESI corporation was not very effective. ESI covers over 2.43 lakh factories and establishments catering to the needs of over 7.16 crore workers.
Bureau Report
The government has so far received consent from seven states, he said. Referring to the shortcomings in the administration of the medical care system under the employees state insurance (ESI) scheme, Verma said there have been complaints regarding non-availability of both funds and drugs.
"There are problem areas which can be solved only by coordinated approach between the ESI corporation and various state governments," he said. About the complaints regarding non-availability of funds, the minister said that due to the ways and means position of the state governments, the funds made available were not reaching the ESI medical scheme at appropriate time.
On the non-availability of drugs, he felt this was because the liaison between the state government medical officers running the ESI scheme and the ESI corporation was not very effective. ESI covers over 2.43 lakh factories and establishments catering to the needs of over 7.16 crore workers.
Bureau Report