The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched a free annual health check-up programme for insured persons over 40 years of age on Thursday in Visakhapatnam, marking the start of a nationwide initiative under the new Labour Codes. The launch took place at the ESIS Hospital in Malkapuram, attended by Joint Director K.R. Ravi Kumar, Dr. C. Sunitha, and other medical officials.

The programme will run from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and noon, offering blood tests, ECGs, and chest X-rays to detect non-communicable diseases early. Medical Superintendent Phanender Ketha confirmed that further treatment will be provided at ESIC facilities if abnormalities are identified.

The initiative targets early diagnosis and preventive care for older insured workers and will be expanded across ESIC hospitals nationwide. The programme will continue at the Malkapuram facility starting next week, with officials monitoring uptake and clinical outcomes.