The launch of the first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital in Kashmir is expected to significantly improve access to affordable healthcare for workers and their families across Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday. The 30-bed facility at Ompora in Budgam marks a major step in expanding social security healthcare in the region.

The hospital, built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, is designed to serve more than 50,000 insured workers and their dependents directly, while also strengthening the broader ESIC network that currently supports around 1.83 lakh insured persons and nearly seven lakh beneficiaries across all districts of J&K.

For workers in Kashmir, the new facility reduces the need to travel long distances to Jammu or other states for specialised treatment under the ESIC scheme. Officials said this is expected to ease financial burden, improve access to timely medical care, and ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, especially for low and middle-income families in the organised sector.

Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The new Labour Codes guarantee several long-awaited protections for workers, including annual health check-ups, mandatory appointment letters, and minimum wages. The provision for annual health checks through ESIC hospitals will allow early detection of diseases, ensure preventive healthcare for workers, and secure their future.”

The hospital also strengthens the government’s push to provide cashless healthcare access through the convergence of ESIC with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, allowing beneficiaries to receive treatment without upfront payment at empanelled hospitals.

Officials said the facility is part of a larger expansion of worker welfare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, where industrial and organised sector employment has been steadily growing. The hospital also has provision for expansion up to 100 beds, indicating future demand for ESIC services in the region.

The ESIC scheme currently operates across India and covers over 3.84 crore insured persons, providing healthcare and social security benefits to nearly 15 crore beneficiaries nationwide.

Officials said the new hospital in Budgam represents a key step in bringing national-level social security healthcare closer to workers in Kashmir, where access and affordability have long been major challenges.

With IANS inputs