ESIC to take over Pandu Nagar hospital, Kanpur; Jajmau hospital to the state

The Pandu Nagar ESI hospital transfer: what happened?

The Employees’ State Insurance scheme gives medical care to insured workers. Kanpur is an old industrial city with many such workers. A medical college run by ESIC brings specialist care and training to them.

• The Cabinet approved handing the state-run ESI hospital at Pandu Nagar, Kanpur, to ESIC to develop it as a super-specialty hospital/medical college, and taking over ESIC’s Jajmau hospital. [UP Cabinet]

What will the new college offer?

• Children of insured persons from across the country get a 50 per cent quota of MBBS seats.
• The State quota is 35 per cent and the Central quota 15 per cent.
• The 300-bed hospital and college will create jobs for 660 doctors, officers, paramedical and nursing staff.
• Another 203 outsourced security and housekeeping staff will be engaged.
• With Varanasi and Greater Noida, ESIC will run 3 medical colleges in UP.

How will the transfer be done?

• An MoU will be signed between the State and ESIC.
• The Director, Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, is authorised to sign it for the State.

Which constitutional entry covers social insurance?

• Seventh Schedule, List III, Entry 23: Social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment.

What can Prelims ask on the Pandu Nagar ESI hospital transfer?

• ESIC medical college, Pandu Nagar, Kanpur: about ₹700 crore; 50 MBBS seats rising to 100; 300 beds.
• Seat quota: 50 per cent insured persons’ wards, 35 per cent State, 15 per cent Centre.
• Social security and social insurance: Concurrent List, Entry 23.