ESI in sick bed

The core issue lies in massive pending bills. While central funds are said to be regularly released, allegations are that the state administration has not cleared dues on time and is diverting funds for other needs

Oxygen concentrators in short supply

Life saving drugs and injections shortage

metro india news  I hyderabad

Hyderabad is witnessing a severe crisis in Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospitals, where a critical shortage of medicines is putting patients’ lives at risk. Cancer, kidney, liver, and asthma patients are among the worst affected, forced to run from pillar to post within hospitals and outside just to secure essential drugs.

Over the past several months, the supply of medicines to ESI hospitals has been badly disrupted. Suppliers have stopped deliveries, citing pending bills worth several crores. Delays in payment releases have led them to withdraw supplies, and this has directly resulted in empty stock across hospitals. Despite repeated issues, there is reportedly little response from higher authorities within the system.

Medicines such as Creon and Pancreatin, required for liver-related diseases, are not available in ESI hospitals. Patients are forced to buy them from private medical shops by spending their own money. For those already struggling with chronic illnesses, this has become an additional burden.

The situation is even more critical for lung patients, who depend on oxygen concentrators. These devices cost around Rs 60,000 in the open market, but ESI is not supplying them due to pending payments to vendors. As a result, patients are forced to rent oxygen concentrators at nearly Rs 5,000 per month just to survive.

Cancer and kidney patients are also facing severe hardship. Medicines such as Letrozole, Sofosbuvir, Capecitabine, Mycofit, Modosis, Cresp injection, Medisera injection, Enzimab, Rivaroxaban, Nefroseve, Everolimus, Tacrolimus, and others are either partially available or completely missing. Many of these drugs are life-saving, and any delay in treatment can be fatal. Some cancer injections alone cost between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, while kidney medicines also run into thousands of rupees.

Although ESI is designed to provide completely free treatment and medicines to insured workers, patients are now forced to spend heavily from their own pockets. Many are borrowing money or even selling assets to continue treatment.

The core issue lies in massive pending bills. While central funds are said to be regularly released, allegations are that the state administration has not cleared dues on time and is diverting funds for other needs. This has led to a complete breakdown in the supply chain, with vendors refusing to supply medicines until payments are cleared.

What is meant to be a fully free healthcare system for insured workers has now turned into a financial and emotional burden for patients. Despite paying their share of contributions every month, workers are now left helpless, struggling to afford basic life-saving treatment.

Patients and families are demanding immediate action from the government to clear pending bills and restore the supply of essential medicines in all ESI hospitals without delay.