CITU activists demands better service at Ramachandra Puram ESI hospital

Patancheru: The CITU activists on Monday staged a dharna at RC Puram ESI Hospital demanding provision of all types of medicines to patients, appointment of specialist doctors and conduct of necessary tests and speedy issue of test reports.

Addressing the participants, district CITU president Narsimha Reddy and state committee member Panduranga Reddy alleged that no proper treatment and medicines were being given to workers because of lack of specialist doctors. They claimed that lack of equipment was resulting in inadequate treatment, causing severe hardship to workers/labourers.

The two leaders pointed out that the hospital established to meet the health needs of workers was letting them down because of its inadequacies and alleged 'massive corruption' by officials, some of whom have already been jailed. They demanded recovery of misused funds from the jailed officials for providing better treatment to workers.

The leaders stated that in emergency situations when workers were taken to private hospitals the ESI hospital officials were not giving reference and not reimbursing bills. They alleged that bathrooms on premises lacked water supply and other facilities, and called upon the ESI Corporation officials to arrange better treatment to government workers and to provide medicines to those who undergo treatment.

Otherwise, they warned of mobilising working class to take up a fight against the hospital management. Among those present during the dharna were TU leaders Trimurthulu, Srinivas, Suresh Kumar, Gangadhar, Arjun, Ram Reddy, labourers, besides women.