Labour Commissioner reviews health insurance measures for workers, their dependents under ESI scheme

JAMMU, JANUARY 30: Labour Commissioner, J&K Charandeep Singh Tuesday chaired a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Employees State Insurance Society (JKESIS) to review the healthcare benefits being extended to workers covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme of Government of India.

Regional Director, ESIC, State Medical Officer ESIC, Administrative Medical Officer (AMO) JKESIS, Chief Accounts Officer JKESIS and IMOs of JKESIS Dispensaries attended the meeting.

Under the ESI scheme, healthcare benefits are provided to employees working in factories and establishments covered under the ESI Act, 1948.

In J&K, the healthcare benefits to workers and their dependants is provided in the ESIC hospital Bari Brahmana run by Central Government and eight Dispensaries run by J&K Government viz four ESI dispensaries situated in Rangreth, Khanmoh, BAM Khan and Zainakote in Kashmir Division and four ESI dispensaries situated in Tallab Tillo, Kuthua, Bari-Brahmana and Digiana in Jammu Division. 

Further, there are 16 empanelled/tie-up hospitals/Nursing Homes/diagnostic Centers and other centers in Jammu and Kashmir where cashless treatment is also provided to the workers (Insured Persons) and their dependents.

The Labour Commissioner, who is also the ex-officio Director of JKESIS, took a detailed review of the functioning of the society and discussed measures to ensure removal of bottlenecks in smooth running of its affairs.

The Labour Commissioner asked the Insurance Medical Officers (IMOs) of the dispensaries to ensure timely processing of Medical Reimbursement Claims of the workers and start documentation of clinical data and registration of workers and their dependents on the Dhanwantri App. “Ensure disposal of all pending MRC cases at your level within the next 3- days” he told IMOs and also directed the Administrative Medical Officer (AMO) and Chief Accounts Officer, JKESIS to process all cases as per guidelines and put up a comprehensive account within a week.

It was also decided in the meeting that requisition of funds shall be made to the DG ESIC Office immediately so that the process of procurement of drugs can be started forthwith as per the guidelines. Moreover, it was informed that 90% of the earlier sanctioned funds have been released till date.

Regional Director ESIC was urged to bring more and more eligible establishments under the ambit of ESI Scheme in the UT for the benefit of workers besides providing the requisite financial support to the society for smooth delivery of healthcare services.

 The Labour Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the Government towards extending various social security including healthcare benefits to the workers in J&K and urged all officers to work towards streamlining the system of delivery of services.