Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 17: Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that necessary steps will be taken on priority to consider the process of directly handing over the ESI Hospital in the city to the ESIC.

He gave this response to a representation submitted by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, who met the minister in New Delhi in this regard.

Chowta drew the minister’s attention to the problems and challenges currently being faced by the ESI Hospital and explained the urgent need for ESIC to directly take over the hospital, which is serving around 2.5 lac insured persons in Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts.

As per the direction of ESIC director general Ashok Kumar Singh, a letter had been written to state labour minister Santosh Lad urging the formation of a society for better management of the ESI Hospital. MLA Vedavyas Kamath had also pressed for this demand. As a result, the state government has formed the society, Chowta explained.

Due to the shortage of staff in the hospital, services are getting disrupted, which is hindering the availability of quality medical facilities to lacs of insured persons and their families. In his representation, the MP stated that if ESIC directly takes over the hospital, it will be possible to appoint adequate staff and bring significant improvement in medical services.