In a major step to enhance healthcare infrastructure and medical education, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has planned to set up 10 new medical colleges in India. The move is in line with the government's intention to raise the number of medical seats in the country.

Strategic Locations for New Medical Colleges

The new ESIC medical colleges shall be established at different strategic points to provide extended access to good quality medical education and healthcare services. The shortlisted locations are:

•Delhi (Basaidarapur)
•Uttar Pradesh (Noida and Varanasi)
•Rajasthan (Jaipur)
•Madhya Pradesh (Indore)
•Maharashtra (Andheri)
•Gujarat (Naroda-Bapunagar)
•Assam (Guwahati-Beltola)
•Jharkhand (Ranchi)
•Punjab (Ludhiana)
•West Bengal (Joka)

These locations were selected based on factors such as regional healthcare needs, existing infrastructure, and the potential to enhance medical education in underserved areas.​

Enhancing Medical Education and Healthcare Services

The establishment of these medical colleges aims to achieve several key objectives:​

Increase in Medical Seats: The new colleges will help the government's plan to increase 75,000 new medical seats in the next five years, as stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address. ​

Improved Healthcare Services: By producing more medical professionals, the initiative aims to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services and enhance patient care throughout the country.

Integration with Ayushman Bharat: The ESIC beneficiaries will be provided with medical care under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) without any expenditure ceiling in empanelled hospitals, providing complete healthcare coverage. ​

Extension of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

Apart from launching new medical colleges, the government has also extended the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for two years from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026. This scheme gives unemployment allowance to insured persons employed under the Employees' State Insurance Act and is meant to give financial assistance during unemployment.