What medical benefits are contractual workers at PGIMER denied?

Contractual workers at PGIMER are denied free medical treatment, which is provided to regular staff.

Why are PGIMER's contractual workers excluded from ESIC?

Their salaries exceed the ₹21,000 threshold, making them ineligible for ESIC hospital coverage.

What action are PGIMER contract workers taking?

Contractual workers have been observing a 24-hour chain hunger strike demanding medical benefits.

Home / Health / PGIMER's Contract Staff Denied Medical Benefits

PGIMER's Contract Staff Denied Medical Benefits

23 Jan

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Summary

3,500 contract workers at PGIMER face hazardous conditions.
Workers lack medical benefits, unlike regular staff.
Exemptions for PGIMER tied to equal wages and facilities.

PGIMER's Contract Staff Denied Medical Benefits

Approximately 3,500 contractual workers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) continue to labor under hazardous conditions, denied essential medical benefits. These workers, performing roles such as hospital attendants, security guards, and sanitation staff, are exposed to infectious diseases in high-risk zones like isolation wards and operation theatres. Their situation has worsened over the past three to four years, particularly after their salaries surpassed the ₹21,000 threshold, disqualifying them from Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage.

Key exemptions granted to PGIMER by the Union ministry of labour and employment, last extended in July 2025, stipulated parity in working conditions and facilities compared to regular employees. However, the institute's failure to provide free medical treatment to its contractual workforce, in contrast to its regular staff, has left these front-line employees vulnerable. The recent death of a 49-year-old security guard, Harjasvinder Singh, who passed away after a stroke during duty, underscored the crisis as his family bore significant medical expenses.