ESI hospital moves into modern complex

Tirupati: Finally, the ESI hospital in the pilgrim city has been shifted into Rs 108 crore modern building which wears a total corporate look to provide better services to the patients. It took more than a decade for the dream come into a reality with ESI Corporation proposed to renovate and upgrade the 50 bedded hospital into 100 bedded facility and the works started in 2010.

Though it was planned to complete it in 18 months it took almost 100 months to get inaugurated in September 2018. By then, some sundry works were pending of which majority have been completed by now.

Yet, the hospital has been continuing with 50 beds only with the State government has not yet issued orders to make it 100-bedded non-teaching hospital. Once that orders are issued, only the staff strength will be increased by the government by following the due procedure.

Presently, the hospital has 31 doctors in all cadres and the strength may go up to 57 if government issues orders. Similarly, nursing staff will be doubled to 36 and class IV staff will be more than doubled to make it 105 as against the existing 42, said the hospital Medical Superintendent Dr CK Ramesh Kumar.

He told The Hans India that the modern hospital is expected to cater to the needs of 4.5 lakh insured persons in Rayalaseema and Nellore districts. On an average, 300 outpatients per day visits ESI Hospital. At present, the hospital has 100 per cent occupancy of beds, which may go up significantly.

The new facility had a built-up area of 2.25 lakh square feet with basement, ground and five floors. It was equipped with five modular operation theatres and 23 consultation suits. The centralised AC hospital will have to be maintained by 33 people round-the-clock by giving it annual maintenance contract to outsourcing through tendering process, Dr Ramesh said.

The hospital was equipped with solar back up system and provided with a big sewage collection tank having a capacity of 40 kilolitres per day with existing sewage treatment plant and the treated water will be used for horticulture.

Though the hospital has formally started functioning in the new building, it has been still facing water problem. An insider has explained that the new building requires more water for which a separate pipeline has to be laid and supplied.

Presently, they have been getting through normal connection like any other domestic use. This issue has to be addressed immediately before government issues orders for making it a 100-bedded hospital.

In such a huge complex, the lack of required staff strength at all cadres will become a major handicap on which the State government has to focus its attention immediately and take steps to address the pending issues in the best interests of thousands of ESI beneficiaries.