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Healthcare promise broken for low-income workers
15 Aug
Summary
- ESIC failed to renew contracts with specialty hospitals in Thrissur.
- Low-income workers face denial of essential medical treatments.
- Workers' monthly contributions are insufficient for private care.
Low-income workers enrolled in the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) in Thrissur are facing a critical healthcare crisis. As of October 15, 2025, ESIC has failed to renew empanelment contracts with several key specialty hospitals, including Amala Medical College Hospital and Jubilee Mission Medical College Hospital. This non-renewal means that beneficiaries are increasingly denied access to vital treatments for serious and life-threatening diseases.
Patients requiring specialized care, such as for cancer or gastrointestinal issues, are finding themselves without recourse. One affected individual had to spend ₹3.5 lakh for a surgery previously covered by ESIC, with no reimbursement offered. The lack of empanelled hospitals with specialists in Thrissur forces beneficiaries to travel long distances or pay exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses, pushing families into debt.
Despite Kerala having a robust network of private hospitals, ESIC beneficiaries are being cut off from these facilities. Only limited services are currently covered, and crucial treatments like advanced cancer care are unavailable. This situation raises serious questions about the accessibility of promised healthcare for workers who diligently contribute to the scheme.
