Mumbai: In a move that could benefit thousands of insured workers in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday assured that the Central Government will soon revise the rates under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The assurance came during a high-level meeting in New Delhi with Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, who raised several pending healthcare issues, particularly related to ESIS hospitals in Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, and Kolhapur.
The meeting focused on strengthening employee health infrastructure in the state, with special attention to Mumbai’s ESIS hospital in Andheri. Mandaviya agreed to conduct a joint visit to the facility and directed officials to organise a detailed review of all ESIC hospitals across Maharashtra.
Abitkar also demanded that the current income limit for insurance eligibility be raised from ₹21,000 to ₹30,000, which would allow more workers in urban centres like Mumbai to access quality healthcare services under the scheme.
With 15 ESIS hospitals, 450 empanelled private hospitals, and 134 service dispensaries, the state currently serves nearly 2 crore beneficiaries—including 48.7 lakh insured workers and their families.
Mandaviya also assured swift completion of pending hospital projects in Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Ulhasnagar, and indicated that Nashik’s ESIC hospital may be upgraded ahead of the Kumbh Mela. The meeting is expected to accelerate efforts to improve health services for insured workers across Maharashtra.
