In a significant development for healthcare services in Udupi district, Karnataka's Labour Minister Santosh S Lad has given an assurance that the long-pending issue of doctor appointments at the ESI dispensary in Kundapur taluk will be resolved promptly. The minister's commitment came during the ongoing winter session of the legislative assembly at Suvarna Soudha.
MLA Highlights Eight-Year Vacancy Crisis
Kundapur MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi raised the critical issue, pointing out a glaring administrative failure. He informed the house that two doctor posts were sanctioned for the Kundapur ESI dispensary, but since 2015, not a single permanent doctor has been posted. This eight-year gap has forced the authorities to rely on doctors deputed from other locations, a stop-gap arrangement that has severely compromised the quality and consistency of medical treatment for ESI beneficiaries in the region.
Minister's Three-Week Deadline for Temporary Solution
Responding directly to the MLA's query, Minister Santosh Lad acknowledged the current reliance on deputed doctors. He stated that the demand for appointing permanent medical officers would be thoroughly examined. More immediately, he promised that temporary doctors would be appointed to the Kundapur ESI dispensary within the next three weeks. This interim measure is expected to stabilize medical services while a permanent solution is formulated.
Hospital Empanelment Concerns Addressed
The discussion also covered another vital concern raised by MLA Kodgi. He questioned the omission of two major healthcare institutions—Kasturba Hospital in Manipal and Adarsha Hospital in Kundapur—from the updated list of private hospitals empanelled to treat ESI beneficiaries. Minister Lad responded firmly, stating that if hospitals have been removed from the list without due cause, appropriate action would be taken as per the established rules and procedures.
Following the minister's replies, MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi expressed his gratitude for a separate but related decision. He thanked Minister Lad for extending the empanelment period for private hospitals from one year to two years, a move that followed a formal representation submitted by the MLA earlier. This extension is expected to provide more stability in the healthcare network available to ESI scheme members.
