TIRUPATI: ESI Hospital, situated in the temple city of Tirupati, which was recently renovated and shifted into a modern building worth Rs 108 crores, is reeling under staff crunch and also falling behind in terms of upgrading the facility into a 100 bedded-hospital.
ESI Hospital, that wears a complete corporate look after renovation, is now well equipped with advanced medical facilities. Having more than 100 beds, it is able to provide better services to the in-patients and with sufficient staff, it can treat huge number of out-patients as well. Despite having all the necessary facilities, the hospital is still continuing with only 50 beds, as the state government has not yet issued orders to make it a 100-bedded non-teaching hospital.
A decade ago, the ESI corporation had proposed to renovate and upgrade the 50 bedded-hospital into a 100 bedded multi-specialty hospital.
The works had begun in the year 2010 and it took almost 100 months to get it inaugurated in September 2018, though it was planned to be completed within 18 months.
It was learnt that on an average, around 300 out-patients visit the ESI hospital on any day. At present, there is 100 per cent occupancy of beds in the hospital and it is believed that it may go up significantly, if the hospital upgrades into a 100 bedded hospital.
“The hospital was located in 22,000 square feet before renovation. Now, it has been shifted into a building with an area of 2.40 lakh square feet.
At present, we are serving the in-patients with 50 beds and this would be increased to more than 100 and also, the staff strength will be increased once the orders are issued by the government,” hospital superintendent Dr. C.K. Ramesh Kumar told Deccan Chronicle.
It was also learnt that the hospital is currently reeling under severe staff crunch. At present, the hospital has 13 doctors in all cadre as against the requirement of 20 doctors. Similarly, the hospital which requires an RMO and a nursing superintendent has seen none since its renovation. There is also an insufficiency of nursing staff at the hospital, which requires 23 but are having only 17. Against the required 63 sanitary staff, the hospital has only 42.
“If the government issues orders for upgradation, the strength of doctors may go up to 57 and the nursing staff will be doubled to 36. The strength of Class IV staff will also be doubled to 105 as against the existing 42. The new facility, having five floors, has been equipped with five modular operation theatres and 23 consultation suits, which is necessary for upgrading it into a 100 bedded-hospital,” said Dr. Ramesh Kumar.
However, despite several representations made by the hospital authorities, till date, the state government has not issued any orders for upgrading the ESI hospital. Lack of required staff strength in all cadre has become a major problem for this hospital which is expected to cater to the needs of 4.5 lakh patients, particularly insured persons, in Rayalaseema and Nellore districts per year.
