ESI super speciality hospital in Vizag to be ready by 2025

The new hospital will cater to the medical needs of around 4 lakh people who are covered under ESI scheme across the Vishakhapatnam district

Visakhapatnam: The Employee State Insurance (ESI) super speciality hospital which was sanctioned in Visakhapatnam with a capacity of 400 beds is scheduled be ready by January 2025. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 384 crore for creation of required infrastructure. The hospital is a long-awaited demand of trade unions in the industrial hub of Visakhapatnam. ESI coverage is available for workers in the organised sector.

Union Minister of State for Labour Rameshwar Teli while replying to a question raised by BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao, said that 'The New ESI Hospital will be a valuable gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 4 lakh ESI subscribers.' When asked about the number of insured persons (IPs) covered under ESI coverage, the minister informed that 'there are 3.45 lakh such workers in Visakhapatnam city and four lakhs in the undivided Visakhapatnam district as a whole.' As regards of the ESI facilities available at present, the Minister informed that 'there is one ESI hospital and nine ESI dispensaries in Visakhapatnam district'.

The Union Minister stated that a 400-bed ESI hospital is being established in the city at a cost of Rs 384.26 crore. The new hospital will be equipped with primary and secondary care medical facilities, including specialised care with out-patient, in-patient, emergency services, operation theater, labour room, diagnostic services and facilities under Ayush and super speciality services.

The Central Government had originally given 'in-principle' approval for construction of a 500-bed hospital at Visakhapatnam but as suitable land was not made available by the State Government, it was decided to establish a 400-bed hospital, the Minister informed.

Responding to the issue, Narasimha Rao stated that the new ESI hospital will also serve the medical needs and hospitalisation of common people of Visakhapatnam after meeting the needs of ESI beneficiaries.