State executive committees to be set up: Tomar

With an aim of decentralizing the system, Union Labour minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said that executive committee having delegated powers will be constituted in every state to improve the medical infrastructure at primary level.
Tomar also termed the ESI Corpration's decision to start medical colleges as a "big mistake" and said his ministry will hold discussions with states and Union Health ministry for running already constructed colleges in a proper manner.
Chairing the ESIC's 162nd meeting today, Tomar also instructed ESIC to conduct largescale inspection by its officers to get a first-hand status report of ESIC Hospitals as well as those run by the states.

He instructed the officials to give a report to the Corporation so that a decision for improvement in the secondary medical care of ESI scheme can be taken based on it.
"ESIC will keep the Insured Persons (IPs) and their family members in centre while deciding any issue. Otherwise, no discussions will take place," Tomar told reporters.
The ESI Corporation approved a pilot project to be taken up in three states initially to give wider access to the labour force in the country.

"This will facilitate the beneficiaries to have health- care facilities in general health system of the states. A wider access of healthcare facilities will be ensured through initiative for a larger number of people in the country," he said.

"In today's talks, it was felt that decision to start medical colleges by the ESI Board was a big mistake. In this matter, we are going to review and will take decisions as well.
"Those medical colleges which have already been constructed...How to properly conduct them. Our ministry will discuss it with respective state governments as well as union Health Ministry so that they can run in a proper manner," Tomar said after the meeeting.
Giving details of the Corporation's approval today to the recommendations of the sub-committee on medical services and medical education, Tomar said the proposed state-level executive committee will have powers upto Rs 50 lakhs for executing special repair works in dispensaries.

The committee will have powers of upto Rs 3 crore for special repair of 200-bedded ESI hospitals and upto Rs 5 crores for special repair of ESI hospitals with more than 200 beds, he said.