The Law and Justice Ministry has approved an amendment in the ESIC Act, 1948, to extend health service benefits provided at Employees State Insurance Corporation facilities for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) subscribers. Labour Ministry sources said the ministry was trying to bring an ordinance to bring about this amendment at the earliest in the interest of around 30 crore prospective beneficiaries.

Sources said, “Since the Monsoon Session can be announced soon, the Ministry wants to bring an ordinance before it. Once the ordinance comes into force, the Ministry will introduce the amendment bill in Parliament to make it a permanent law. The Ministry would be required to get the Cabinet’s nod for the ordinance, therefore a cabinet note would be sent soon.”

The Cabinet had earlier given in-principal approval to the idea of amending the ESIC Act. At present, the Act provides that only insured persons (numbering four crore) under the legislation can avail medical services of ESIC.

Under the proposed amendment, a new chapter V (A), Section 73 (A) would be added to the legislation under Transitory Provisions head. This would empower the Centre to frame new schemes for employees of new sectors with separate source of financing.

The government introduced RSBY from April 1, 2008. Under this scheme, a cashless health insurance cover would be provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) workers in India.