The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on Thursday launched a free annual health check-up programme for insured persons above 40 years of age in Visakhapatnam as part of a nationwide initiative under the new Labour Codes.

The programme commenced at the ESIS Hospital in Malkapuram in the presence of Joint Director in-charge K.R. Ravi Kumar, Dr. C. Sunitha and other doctors.

Medical superintendent Phanender Ketha said that the programme would be conducted from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. The health screening includes blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray for early detection of non-communicable diseases. Further treatment would be provided if abnormalities are detected, officials said.