ESIC’s role in providing quality care to workers commendable: MLC Shashil Namoshi

MLC Shashil G. Namoshi lauded the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital in Kalaburagi, in Karnataka, for delivering quality healthcare services to poor patients and insured workers, describing its functioning as commendable and exemplary.

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Speaking at the 75th Foundation Day (diamond jubilee) celebrations of ESIC held at the hospital auditorium in Kalaburagi on February 24, Mr. Namoshi said that the Kalaburagi region had witnessed a significant rise in enrolment under the ESIC scheme, from 50,000 registered workers in 2014 to 2.5 lakh at present, reflecting the growing trust in the institution’s services.

Noting that the Kalyana Karnataka region has a large population of economically weaker and labour-class families, he said efforts must be made to ensure that people do not have to travel to cities like Solapur or Hyderabad even for minor treatments. He said there was a proposal for HKE Society’s MRMC Medical College to collaborate with ESIC Hospital to further strengthen healthcare delivery in the region.

Chincholi MLA Avinash Jadhav said there was a general perception that government hospitals do not respond effectively to patients, and stressed the need to dispel such misconceptions. He urged people to utilise government facilities instead of spending large sums in private hospitals.

Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa appreciated ESIC’s consistent service over the past 75 years, and appealed to students to support efforts to make Kalaburagi a drug-free and cybercrime-free city. He urged citizens not to fall prey to substance abuse, and advised them to report crimes by dialling 112 in emergencies, and 1930 in cybercrime cases.

Earlier, ESIC Medical College Dean Dr. S.V. Kshirsagar said the hospital provides quality treatment at minimal cost. “In January alone, 33,088 patients availed OPD services and 1,732 were treated as in-patients. Of the OPD visits, 11,638 were insured beneficiaries, and 21,450 were members of the general public. Among in-patients, 721 were insured, and 1,011 were uninsured patients,” he said.

Noting that the ESIC Kalaburagi caters not only to insured workers but also to the general public, he said that the insured beneficiaries receive cashless treatment, while others are charged nominal fees – ₹11 for a CBC test, ₹14 for X-ray, ₹30 for ultrasound, ₹1,272 for normal delivery, and ₹487 for cataract surgery. Ward bed charges are ₹75 per day, and ICU bed charges ₹257 per day, he added.

MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu, KKCCI president Sharanabasappa M. Pappa, EPFO Regional Director M. Subramanyam, ESIC Dental College Dean Dr. Prashant Patil, Joint Director S.V. Yuvaraj, Academic Registrar Dr. I. Amrutha Swathi, and heads of ESIC paramedical and nursing colleges, along with staff, students and patients, were present.

Published – February 25, 2026 10:37 am IST