Expressing regret over the delay in Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Medical College in Nagpur, MLA Prvin Datke questioned why the proposal for the medical college was not sent till now. While raising the issue in State Assembly on Monday during Budget Session of Maharashtra State Legislature, Datke stated that the medical college will add to the existing facilities in Government Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). A meeting of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment was held in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on June 27, 2025. In this meeting, a decision was taken to establish 10 new medical colleges across the country.

 

This included Nagpur and Pune in Maharashtra. The Labour Department has sent proposals for medical colleges in 9 other places across the country, but only Nagpur’s proposal has not been submitted to the Government yet. When Nagpur is led by senior leaders like Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, why is there a delay in sending proposals for medical colleges, Datke pointed out. If this proposal is sent, MBBS seats in Nagpur will increase and a third medical college will be set up in Nagpur in the form of Kamgar Hospital Medical College along with GMCH, IGGMCH, Datke said. A large residential colony for the labors is being created in Nagpur between New Nagpur and MIHAN. Datke said, “The hospital currently is functioning on 3 acres land at Hanuman Nagar. If a new medical college is established, patients from labour class will benefit on a large scale. Datke raised specific questions-- When was the MoU signed to establish the State Labor Insurance Corporation Medical College in Nagpur? What is its current status? What are the reasons for the delay in sending the proposal when the labor department has its own land available and the health department has this land available?

 

How many hospitals are there in the state to take care of labourers and their families? Do these labor hospitals have sufficient medical equipment? Are they in working condition? And are the employees working in labor hospitals permanent? Till when will the medical college be operational through the Labor Insurance Corporation in Nagpur? Responding to Pravin Datke, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said that the Government is positive about establishing a medical college at the insurance hospital and assured that the proposal will be sent to the Central Government anew after correcting the technical errors. 

 

Abitkar pays sudden visit to ESIC hospital Taking serious cognisance of the issue of ESIC Medical College raised by MLA Pravin Datke, the Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday night paid a sudden visit to ESIC hospital in Hanuman Nagar. Datke raised the issue on Monday in Assembly. Abitkar talked to the patients and enquired about the treatment being given to them. He also asked people there whether they are satisfied with the food quality. He inspected the hospital premises, took information about the cleanliness. He asked the medical staff about the availability of drugs. He was accompanied by Dr Shashikant Shambharkar and others.