Arora reviews ongoing work on upgradation of facilities at ESIC Hospital

Ludhiana, April 2, 2024: MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora, on Tuesday, visited ESIC Hospital, Ludhiana to see the ongoing work of upgradation in the hospital. He visited different wards of the hospital and also met a couple of patients to enquire about the facilities and medical care being provided to them. 

The Union Government has begun work of upgradation of facilities at 300-bedded ESIC Hospital, Ludhiana at a cost of about Rs.828.51 lakh with consistent efforts made by Arora. The development works include renovation of ICU, (Rs 73.03 lakh), firefighting work (Rs 467.76 lakh), extension on medical gas pipe line (Rs 49.73 lakh) and provision of 240 TR central AC plant (Rs 228.99 lakh). WAPCOS Ltd and CPWD Jalandhar Division are the construction agencies for the ongoing works. 

During his visit today, he held a meeting with the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Bhairvi Deshmukh and other hospital staff members. Arora was apprised that the work of renovation of ICU is almost completed. Nearly 50 per cent work of firefighting has been completed. Arora was apprised that the firefighting work would be completed by August this year. But Arora emphasised to complete this task as early as possible. He was apprised that sixty per cent work of extension on medical gas pipe line has been completed. However, with regard to provision of 240 TR central AC plant, Arora was apprised that a revised estimate has been prepared. 

On the occasion, Arora made a telephonic call to the ESIC DG Rajendra Kumar requesting to speed up the ongoing renovation works in the hospital in the larger interests of the hospital. The ESIC DG assured Arora that he himself is monitoring every work and will do best to speed up.
 
Arora also discussed about increasing the hospital’s beds from 300 to 500. He said the Union Government has recently apprised him that the proposal for expansion of ESIC hospital Ludhiana from 300 beds to 500 beds is under consideration. Existing buildings are already under appraisal for increase of capacities.

Arora was apprised that there was some hinderance in the recruitment of doctors on account of MCC therefore he got arranged a meeting of the hospital’s MS Dr Bhairvi Deshmukh with the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. 

Dr Bhairvi Deshmukh said there was a need of setting up of police chowki in the hospital premises to deal with the medico legal cases. On this, Arora asked Dr Deshmukh to send him in written so that he could take up this matter with Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana. Arora asked Dr Deshmukh to increase bed occupancy rate (BOR) as ICU and other facilities are being upgraded. He was apprised that the hospital’s BOR has already increased from 59 to 64 percent in the recent past. Arora also insisted to treat all the patients within the hospital instead of referring them to other hospitals. He added only most critical patients should be referred to other hospitals. The issue of hospital’s understaffing was also discussed in detail. 

Meanwhile, Arora once again thanked the Union Minister of Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav and the ESIC DG Rajendra Kumar for extending their full cooperation in giving their consent to his proposal of upgradation of facilities and bedding capacity of the hospital.