IT can bring revolution in ESI sector, says member

Employee’s State Insurance Corporation Member Michael Dias has opined that information of technology can bring revolution in ESI sector. With IT, the portability of services will be phenomenal.

Briefing reporters, during his visit to review the status of health services in ESIC health institutions at ESIC Sub Regional Office here on Tuesday, he said that the health service is good in Mangaluru compared to other places. However, ESIC is working to improve the conditions with the cooperation of the state government.

The corporation has 40 per cent staff shortage in India including in Mangaluru. Though the corporation pays government scale sale salary, it is not adequate to attract them.

Though there is plan of up gradation of hospitals, ESIC is rethinking about the idea as private hospitals are more popular in the region. Mangaluru has got good hospital, but there is scarcity of man power. There is no financial crunch, but there should be a constant follow up about the development works in the health institutions, he opined. 

Meanwhile, he said that ESIC will not increase the minimum salary margin. There was a proposal of increasing it from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. It would be a fancy idea, if we don’t provide proper service to the present beneficiaries. It will be done in future, but at an appropriate time, he added.

Complaints galore

Earlier, S Chandappa Anchan said that employees don’t have information about ESI facilities. Though the ESIC hospital in Mangaluru has modern machineries, there are useless because of shortage of doctors and support staff. Though it’s a huge hospital, there are no patients. There are only four to five doctors to 50 sanctioned posts.

Krishna Bhat highlighted the communication problem in the hospital. Few staff in the hospital don’t know Kannada or Tulu. It has become barrier for them to communicate with the local corporation and with people.

Dinesh of HLL alleged that their employees didn’t get biometric cards though photo was collected in 2012. A complaint was given in regional office, but it was for no use. Ravindra of Lamina Suspension Production Limited complained that they are not getting proper treatment for backache as it is not considered as injury.

Recruitment in 6 months

ESIC Medical Services Director Shridevi said that a proposal has been sent to the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) for the recruitment of staff, however it would take at least six months.

However, employees and trade union leaders were not happy and alleged that officials are repeating the same promise from years.

They also wanted the ESIC to pay the bill of private hospitals at the earliest, in case of references.

ESIC Regional Director R S Rao, Assistant State Medical Commissioner Dr Ravindranath Kaur Chilana, ESIC Hospital Mangaluru Medical Superintend Ashok Kumar were present among others.