Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Friday made operational dispensary cum-branch office (DCBO) in 29 districts, an initiative which would soon be extended across the country.
Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar launched the service in 29 districts while participating in "Swachhata Hi Sewa Movement" at ESIC Model Hospital & Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science and Research (PGIMSR), Basaidarapur, New Delhi today, a Labour Ministry statement said.
Gangwar said in the statement that the DCBO is being started in 29 districts and gradually, it will be extended in the entire country.
The DCBOs will be set up in every district to make presence of primary care services, irrespective of whether a district has already a state-run dispensary in that area.
He further informed that the DCBO will perform the functions of both dispensary and branch office.
Generally, these are two separate units but in case of a DCBO, these will act as single unit providing patient services and cash-benefit payments under one roof besides providing medicines to patient attending DCBOs.
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The DCBO will also distribute medicines to Insurance Medical Practitioner (IMP) and Employer Utility Dispensary (EUD) referred patients and will make referrals for secondary care, payment of bills of empanelled chemist/diagnostic centre and to provide IT help care services to IPs (insured persons)/employers.
It will reimburse the medical reimbursement claim bills of beneficiaries of medicines and lab bills outside the approved list of medicines and lab tests prescribed by the modified EUD and modified IMP/IMP. Full establishment and operational cost of DCBO would be borne by ESIC and the concerned State would not be bearing any expenditure under this head, it said.
Gangwar also informed that now ESIC "Chinta Se Mukti" mobile app is available on UMANG platform of Government of India. With this app, the Insured Persons can view their contribution history, personal profile, claim status and also their entitlement to benefits. Grievances can also be lodged through this app. Besides, Insured Persons can also view knowledge bank on health topics and audio-visuals on benefits under ESI Scheme.
The minister said that cleanliness is godliness and reiterated the importance of cleanliness to prevent diseases.
Gangwar also planted saplings and took round of ESIC Hospital and inspected the construction work going on there.