ESIC promises quick action on cards

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is planning to introduce a common `smart identity card' for employees to facilitate payment "anytime anywhere".

Currently the ESI authorities at the national level are preparing the policy framework in this regard.

B. K. Sahu, additional commissioner and regional director of ESI Corporation, said we intend to facilitate anytime anywhere payment to insured persons.

"We have already introduced photo-identity cards for enrolled members which would act as a single point source of updated profiles of employees and the benefits available to them. The next step would be the smart card," he added.

Talking with BS Sahu also said the corporation is also planning to introduce service dispensaries in place of enlisted individual medical practitioners (IMPs).

"At the moment an individual have to go to different places for diagnosis, medicines and tests, so the new dispensaries would have all the facilities at one place," he explained.

The corporation has also started a survey to understand the quality of the customer service.

Meanwhile the ESIC has tied up with the Merryland for the proposed hospital at Haldia and its construction has been approved in principle.