Shobha Karandlaje, the Union Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Labour, and Employment, held a meeting today to check on the progress of a new 100-bedded Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital being built at the SIDCO Industrial Complex in Ompora, Budgam. The hospital is being constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore and aims to improve healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir.
The hospital will have modern medical facilities, including outpatient departments (OPD), inpatient departments (IPD), intensive care units (ICU), wards, diagnostic labs, an operation theater, and disaster management services. It will also have its own power supply station and will include surgery and psychiatric departments with specialists available 24/7.
During the meeting, Minister Karandlaje highlighted the importance of the hospital in enhancing healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir. She stated that the facility is designed to provide high-quality health services under the ESIC system, focusing on preventive and primary care.
The Minister urged the construction team to finish the project on time, emphasizing that delays would not be accepted. She mentioned that the Central Government is committed to promoting peace and development in the region. Karandlaje also visited other health facilities being built, which will cover 23 specialties in the hospital.
The new ESIC hospital is expected to benefit many people, as there are over 6,000 industries in Jammu and Kashmir under the ESI Act. More than 133,000 insured workers and their families currently receive benefits from the Jammu Branch Office and five other dispensaries in Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Katra, and Srinagar.
The hospital will greatly improve healthcare for industrial workers and their families connected to around 600 factories and institutions covered by the ESI Act. The ESIC system will cover all medical expenses, including referrals to larger hospitals, and provide various insurance benefits for death and disability.
Officials noted that the hospital will be built to the same standards as hospitals in big cities, aiming to provide better treatment to local residents. The goal is to offer affordable healthcare services to those in need, with treatment costs capped to ensure everyone can access care.
SIDCO has acquired 40 kanals of land for the hospital, which will be leased for construction. The facility is designed to provide efficient patient care during emergencies, with enough staff and equipment, including several operating rooms. Around 23 specialists will be available to ensure quality healthcare.
Dushyant Pande, the Regional Director of ESIC in J&K, along with engineers from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and contractor G. Velladurai from IEDS Joint Director, attended the review meeting.
