(Rpting DI 36, correcting figure in para one and slugline

New Delhi, June 15 (UNI) An estimated 3,07,01,300 rpt 3,07,01,300 workers and their families are expected to benefit from the decision of the board of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to take over all ESI hospitals run jointly by the states and the Centre.

However, the takeover will be restricted to states that are agreeable to the divesting of responsibility to the Centre.

The decision, which is expected to cost Rs 400 to 500 crore annually, was taken at the 136th meeting of the ESI Corporation held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Union Labour and Employment Minister Chandrasekhar Rao.

Justifying the decision, Mr Rao said the healthcare delivery system was not satisfactory due to dual control of both the Centre and states in administration of the scheme. The step was aimed at "improving the healthcare delivery system and would immensely benefit insured workers and their families," he said.

In addition, the board meeting decided to hike the wage ceiling for coverage under the ESI Act from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000 per month.

The Corporation runs the ESI Scheme, a multi-discipline social security programme for workers, which is availed by an estimated 3.5 lakh beneficiaries who visit the service outlets at the grassroots level daily, either for treatment or for getting cash benefits.

With the anticipated rise in the numbers of persons availing themselves of the health facilities, ESIC is expected to replace the doctors, nurses and staff manning ESIC hospitals in states who are state government employees on deputation with their own employees.

The scheme is effective in all states except the Northeast barring Asom.

ESIC, which is managed by a tripartite board and a director general, administers the world's largest health insurance programme through regional and local offices.

The ESI covers 143 hospitals throughout the country having a sizeable number of in-patient and out-patient cases.

UNI SD MSJ KP1520