A Rs 130-crore super-speciality hospitality of the ESIC to serve about 50 lakh insured people and families in South India, was opened here on Saturday by the Union Minister for Labour, Mr Mallikarjun Kharge.

The 126-bed hospital in the premises of the ESIC (Employees State Insurance Corporation) here, will have all the latest facilities and provide the best medicare.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kharge said ESICs can go in for contract and outsourced medical professionals to meet patients' demands.

Mr Kharge said the Ministry provides 87.5 per cent contribution to the running of ESICs, at present. He urged State Government's to utilise the facilities to the maximum. “We are willing to reimburse as much as you spend,” he added.

The super-speciality hospital has all the facilities comparable to any private corporate hospital. It will provide emergency and diagnostic services to the insured workers in Andhra Pradesh, as well as other southern States. The Union Ministry had in 2006-07 decided to set up four such super-speciality hospitals across the country in each region. New Delhi (North), Kolkatta (East), Hyderabad (South) and one in West. The Corporation is also entering into tie-up arrangement with other hospitals on cashless basis. At present, the ESIC has 147 hospitals, 1402 dispensaries and 1,540 panel clinics.

He said the country's first ESIC-run medical college will also come up in the campus.

Work is already in progress and 10 per cent of the seats would be reserved for employees of the ESIC.

10 lakh families to benefit

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, said at least 10 lakh families would benefit from the super-speciality hospital. There was a need for professional doctors and healthcare manpower in the State.

He said 10 lakh surgeries were performed under the ‘Arogyasri' scheme in the State so far.

The Union Ministers, Ms D Purandeswari (HRD), and Ms Panabaka Lakshmi, (textiles), who also spoke at the function, made a plea to the Minister to start similar hospitals in Guntur/Vijayawada; Visakhapatnam and Tirupathi.

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