Ayushman Bharat Update: ESIC and Ayushman Bharat to Merge, 14.43 Crore People to Benefit – Know the Details Inside

The central government is planning to link the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) with the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This will allow 14.43 crore ESI beneficiaries to access medical care under AB-PMJAY. The Ministry of Labor and Employment shared this information on Thursday.

ESIC and Ayushman Bharat Collaboration

The Ministry of Labor and Employment announced that the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will be linked with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This move will benefit 14.43 crore ESI beneficiaries and their families by providing access to quality medical services across India. This initiative, guided by Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to expand healthcare access for the workforce and their families.

Benefits of the Scheme

After the scheme is launched, ESI beneficiaries will get secondary and tertiary medical services at over 30,000 AB-PMJAY-empanelled hospitals across the country. There will be no financial limit on treatment costs. Charitable hospitals will also be added to the list of hospitals providing treatment to ESI beneficiaries.

Current ESI Scheme Facilities

Currently, the ESI scheme provides:

• Medical care through 165 hospitals and 1,590 dispensaries.
• 105 dispensary cum branch offices (DCBOs).
• About 2,900 empanelled private hospitals.

Expansion of Services

In the last decade, the ESI scheme expanded from 393 districts in 2014 to 687 districts in 2024. This integration with PMJAY will extend coverage to the remaining districts, ensuring nationwide healthcare access.