Employees State Insurance
Employees’ State Insurance Scheme of India is the country’s first
integrated multi-dimensional social security scheme for workers in the
organized sector. Medical care under this scheme is implemented in the
State of Kerala through the Insurance Medical Services.
ESI scheme started functioning in Kerala State on 16-09-1956 in seven
centres. In due course of time the scheme was implemented in all major
centres in the State.
For the effective implementation of the scheme a separate department
was formed on 1-04-1985 namely Insurance Medical Services under the
administrative control of Labour department, Government of Kerala,
prior to which the scheme was implemented through State Health Services
department. The Insurance Medical Services department provides total
medical care to the insured persons and their dependents through a vast
and widespread network of ESI dispensaries and hospitals within the
vicinity of their residential areas, in addition to providing inpatient
care. It provides protection to the beneficiaries in contingencies such
as sickness, maternity or death and disablement due to employment
injury or occupational disease.
It is the most affordable social security system with lowest
contribution rate for multiple health insurance benefits. It takes care
of insured persons and their dependents from day one of entering
employment. It is the only health insurance scheme that offers full
medical care to workers and their family members without any ceiling on
individual expenditure. ESI scheme in the state fully finances those
cases requiring advanced or super-speciality treatment which is not
available in the ESI hospitals.
