Hyderabad: Minister Vivek Venkataswamy inaugurated a new OPD building at Sanathnagar ESI Hospital on July 14. Union Minister Manasukh Mandaviya also attended the programme.
Mandaviya virtually inaugurated seven ESI health projects across the country from Sanathnagar. Six other projects came up as hospitals, dispensaries and branch offices in five states.
The projects span Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The government built the facilities at a combined cost of about Rs. 668 crore.
Officials said the projects will provide modern medical services to 53 lakh ESI beneficiaries nationwide. The new Sanathnagar facility alone received an investment of Rs. 211.13 crore.
The new OPD block includes modern outpatient departments and 180 general beds. It also has 25 ICU beds, 20 NICU beds, radiology and rehabilitation facilities.
Additionally, the facility includes yoga services and other medical amenities. Officials said the new block will benefit 12.30 lakh insured workers and beneficiaries across Telangana.
Vivek Venkataswamy said he had seen major changes at the hospital over the years. He recalled visiting Sanathnagar ESI Hospital when his father, Venkata Swamy, served as a minister.
Sanathnagar ESI Hospital expansion needs more facilities
The Minister said the hospital now performs bypass surgeries and provides dialysis services. He also highlighted the availability of advanced cancer therapy at the facility.
However, Vivek said Sanathnagar faces overcrowding and needs more tertiary healthcare facilities nearby. He pointed to the heavy patient load at hospitals in RC Puram and Patan Cheruvu.
He also called for a 20-bed dialysis centre at Nacharam. Meanwhile, he said the state had already provided land for a hospital at Shamshabad.
Vivek said around 18 lakh people benefit from ESI hospitals in Telangana. He also sought the restoration of 15 ESI dispensaries that authorities had cancelled because of inadequate space.
The Minister said the state would provide space if those dispensaries received fresh sanction. He also noted that Ramagundam would have a growing worker population and called for wider treatment capacity there.
Hospitals have already been sanctioned for Ramagundam, Shamshabad and Mahabubnagar. Vivek said another ESI hospital should also be sanctioned for Warangal.
He further highlighted the rising number of dialysis patients. Along with cardiac care, he called for dialysis centres at all ESI hospitals.