SRINAGAR: A 100-bedded Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital is under construction at SIDCO Industrial Complex, Ompora, Budgam, with an investment of Rs 160 crore. The hospital will be equipped with modern healthcare facilities, including OPD, IPD, ICU, diagnostic laboratories, operation theatres, disaster management facilities, and an independent sub-station. It will also house dedicated Surgery and Psychiatric departments, staffed by specialist doctors and well-trained personnel available around the clock.
Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, chaired a meeting today to review the progress of the hospital’s construction. She termed the project as a significant step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. Emphasising the need for timely completion, she directed authorities to adhere to the set deadlines and cautioned against any delays. The minister also inspected the under-construction health facilities planned for 23 medical specialties.
Highlighting the importance of the hospital, Karandlaje stated that it would cater to the healthcare needs of over one lakh thirty-three thousand insured persons and their dependents registered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act in Jammu and Kashmir. She mentioned that over 6,000 industries and establishments in the region are covered under the Act, and the new hospital will significantly enhance medical care for insured workers and their families.
The hospital is expected to benefit thousands of industrial workers associated with approximately 600 factories and institutions. The ESIC system will cover all medical and hospital expenses, including referrals to tertiary care hospitals, alongside various insurance provisions for death and disability. An official noted that the hospital’s design follows the standards of metro city hospitals, aiming to provide high-quality healthcare services to the local population at an affordable cost. Treatment charges will be capped to ensure accessibility for those in need.
According to officials, the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) has acquired 40 kanal of land for the hospital’s construction. The facility has been strategically planned to ensure efficient patient care, particularly in emergencies, with adequate personnel, medical equipment, and operating rooms.
The review meeting was attended by Dushyant Pande, Regional Director, ESIC, J&K, engineers from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), and the Joint Director of the Indian Economic Development Society (IEDS).
