The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has decided to establish 20 more new medical colleges over the next two years.

This move will increase the reach of affordable government medical care for 3.72 crore Corporation insured workers and their families.

Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya  said that the the proposed 10 new medical colleges which are being explored for opening in 2025-26 would be in Pune (Maharashtra, Manesar (Haryana), Kollam (Kerala), Surat (Gujarat), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Asansol (West Bengal), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Margaon (Goa).

He also stated that these ten medical colleges will be set in addition to already approved ones in Andheri, Basaidarapur, Guwahati-Beltola, Indore, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Naroda - Bapunagar, Noida, Varanasi and Ranchi.

The ESIC in its 194th meeting has approved in-principle the establishment of 10 new medical colleges.

The minister further informed that ESIC is also working on converging with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to offer comprehensive, cashless medical care to over 14.4 crore beneficiaries.