ESI SCHEME IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
Preliminary :-
The ESI scheme in the state of Himachal Pradesh has started in the year, 1977 with notification (details enclosed) of some areas of Solan Distt. However, the state was far behind in industrialization , the scheme remained dormant in Himachal Pradesh till, 2000. After 2000, because of package of tax concession announced by the central government, rapid growth of industrialization was witnessed in the state and huge number of industrial units were set up in the foothills of Shiwalik, i.e. Solan, Sirmour and Una Districts of the state.
Till April 2003, the scheme in H.P. was administered by the Regional Director, Punjab and at that time, there were only three branch offices in HP at Parwanoo, Baddi  and Paonta Sahib. In 1995 a 50 bedded  Hospital was commissioned in Parwanoo. At present the scheme has been implemented in Solan, Parwanoo, Baddi, Barotiwala, and Nalagarh in Solan District, Municipal Areas of Shimla and Shogi in Shimla Distt., Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb in Sirmour Distt. and Mehatpur in Una Distt. The approved no of Employees as on 31/03/10 has increased to 1,73,704. as against 1,48,000. approved as on 31.03.09. We have since notified some more areas in Una, Bilaspur and Mandi Distt. w.e.f. 01.12.08.
The regional office of Himachal Pradesh was set up in April ,2003. Since we had no Building to accommodate the Regional office, the same was started in 4-5 rooms on the second floor of ESI Hospital, Parwanoo with about 15 staff and 2 Officers diverted from Punjab Region. The number of staff since then has reached 40 only, though the work has increased mani-fold.

Infrastructure and facilities :-

a. Administration of the scheme :- The Regional Office is housed in the ESIC Hospital Building in Parwanoo and Branch Offices have the following Staff as on 31.03.2011

The above staff strength does not include ministerial staff of upcoming ESI Model Hospital at   Baddi.

There are seven Branch Offices attached to this Region. All the Branch Offices are functioning in private rented buildings at Paonta Sahib, Kala Amb in Distt. Sirmour, Parwanoo, Baddi, Nalagarh in distt. Solan, Mehatpur in Distt. Una and Mandi in Distt. Mandi and pay offices in Jabli, Solan, Shimla, Golthai, Gagret. The Construction of Regional Office and Branch Office at Baddi is in progress and likely to be ready by June ending this year.
Needless to say, there is an acute shortage of staff in the Region as a result of which we are not able to do full justice to work especially with regard to record-keeping & other routine matter. However priority items, especially with regard to benefits to workers are being attended despites all constraints. I.T. Roll  out is being accorded high priority and Pehchan module is in progress at all centers. All the Challans have been generated electronically upto the month of April, 2011
Inspite of the constraints the Regional Office, Parwanoo has achieved management system certification against ISO 9001: 2000 standard in the year 2009 which has now been upgraded to ISO 9001: 2008 standard in the year, 2010.

b. Medical Facilities :-
Since the formation of the Region in 2003, there has virtually been no improvement in the administration of medical care to the I.Ps' though the revenue income increased manifold for the last 7-8 years. Presentaly, the average revenue collection is above Rs. 3.5 crores per month.
Only one ESI Hospital in the state is a 50- Bedded Hospital at Parwanoo. This is perhaps the  only ESI Hospital in India where non ESI Patients are given treatment though the cost of the administration of the hospital is charged to ESIC. Only 20-22 beds are commissioned and about 80-90 % of Patients attending in the OPDs are non -ESI Patients. There are no specialists in crucial departments like orthopedics, Surgery, Obst-gyne, Paediatrics , ENT etc.
The state of H.P. is also running ESI Dispensaries in Private accommodation  in following centers.

1. One dispensary at Jabli
2. Two Dispensaries at Paonta Sahib
3. One Dispensary at Solan
4. One Dispensary at Shimla
5. Three Dispensaries at Baddi , Barotiwala and Nalagarh.
6. One Dispensary at Mehatpur.
7. One dispensary at Kala- Amb.

Now the ESI Corporation have constructed one hundred bedded ESIC Model Hospital at Highly Industiralised station at Baddi which will bring relief to stake holders at Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh to a great extent. The hospital is likely to be commissioned and inaugurated on 10th May 2011. The foundation stone of the Hospital was laid by our Honorable Minister of Labour, Sh. Oscar Fernandes on 10th June 2008 and the construction was started in July 2008. Besides, one Diamond Jubilee ESIC Dispensary is also being set up at industrial centre at Parwanoo.
           
The State Govt. did not have separate Directorate for ESI and the scheme was run as a part of general health care under the Health department upto the last year i.e. 2010. The facilities and conditions in the dispensaries are deplorable. However now a society has been formed headed by the Director, Health Safety and Regulation at the State Health Directorate Building in Shimla.

The ESIC is also running two doctors dispensary as an extension OPD of ESIC Model Hospital at Baddi. Besides, Panel  clinic at Gagret, Golthai, Bathri, and tie up arrangement of Secondary treatment at Mandi, Una, Nalagarh and Paonta Sahib.

 The Re-imbursement bills of I.Ps were pending for last 4-5 Years and the Director  General during his visit to Baddi, instructed this office to solve the problem on top priority. Accordingly, Rs. 2 crores were requisitioned from ESI Hqrs. Office and by now payment of bills, passed by the State Govt., are being disbursed by the Branch Offices, By now an amount of Rs. 6 crores has been paid. This step has contributed a lot to raise the level of I.Ps' satisfaction.

The construction of ESI Medical College with attached Hospital and Nursing college is in full swing at Ner Chowk, Mandi. 

Growth of Insured Population Revenue income of Regional Office H.P. Region