Chemotherapy for cancer patients launched in 30 ESIC hospitals, PM Modi lauds initiative

New Delhi: It came as good news for lakhs for beneficiaries of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) as the Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Thursday launched the chemotherapy services in as many as 30 ESI hospitals across the country.

Bhupendra Yadav, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Environment announced the path-breaking decision, aimed at providing cancer cure to workers & employees of the unorganized sector, at the 191st meet of ESI Corporation.

Extremely delighted to have launched Chemotherapy Services in 30 ESIC Hospitals across India during the 191st meeting of the ESI Corporation.

The launch is a step in the direction of realising PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s vision of all-round welfare of our Shram Yogis in India’s… pic.twitter.com/FDlG12UBAr

— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) August 31, 2023

Announcing the roll-out of chemotherapy in 30 ESIC hospitals, he said that this was a step forward to realize PM Modi’s vision of providing all-round welfare of Shram Yogis while the nation celebrates ‘Amrit Kaal’.

PM Modi lauds initiative

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised the Labour & Employment minister for extending cancer treatment services in 30 ESCI hospitals and said that this will strengthen the infrastructure to cure cancer.

“Commendable effort to strengthen the infrastructure to cure cancer. It will benefit several people across the nation,” the Prime Minister wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a post by the Minister.

Commendable effort to strengthen the infrastructure to cure cancer. It will benefit several people across the nation. https://t.co/De7cthea9J

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2023

Chemotherapy is a highly expensive treatment for cancer patients and it has largely remained confined to super specialty hospitals, till now. With ESIC centers being readied for cancer treatment, this will help thousands of workers in the unorganized sector, who can avail the facility at those centers only, with much ease and at highly subsidized rates.

As per existing practice, the workers & their dependents were forced to visit private hospitals for critical or expensive treatments and the same had to be approved from respective ESI centers.

New ESIC medical colleges

The Union Minister informed that new ESIC medical colleges and hospitals will be established to cater to wider population base.

An in-principle approval was given for setting up 15 new ESI hospitals and 78 ESI dispensaries.