PM Modi lays stone for new ESI Hospital in Achutapuram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for a new Employee State Insurance (ESI) Hospital in Achutapuram today, marking a significant step towards enhancing healthcare facilities for workers in the region. The ceremony was attended by State Labor Minister Vasamsetti Subhash, District Collector Vijaya Krishnan, and local legislator Sandarapu Vijayakumar. The event underscores the government’s commitment to the well-being of workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Labor Minister Vasamsetti Subhash highlighted the importance of the project. “This is one of seven ESI hospitals sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh,” he said. “Prime Minister Modi’s support and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s dedication to workers’ welfare have made this possible.” He added that the Rs 69 crore hospital is expected to be completed within three years. Minister Subhash acknowledged the delays encountered during the initial stages of the project. He attributed these setbacks to the negligence of the previous administration. “We cannot allow workers’ welfare to be an afterthought,” he emphasized, citing a recent industrial accident that claimed 15 lives as a stark reminder of the urgent need for such facilities.
District Collector Vijaya Krishnan explained that the 30-bed hospital, spread across two acres, will cater to nearly 37,000 insured workers and 1,40,000 beneficiaries and their families. Its strategic location in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone will provide healthcare access to workers within a 25-kilometer radius.
Legislator Sundarapu Vijay Kumar elaborated on the range of services the hospital will offer. “It will provide secondary care in multiple specialties, including medicine, surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, and anaesthesia. We are also making provisions for super-specialty medicines,” he said. He added that the Labor Department will work closely with companies to ensure that employees and their families are covered under the healthcare scheme.
Residents of nearby areas, such as Parwada, Anakapalli, and Alluri Seetharama Raju, will also benefit from the hospital’s services. “For just Rs 120 a year, retired and permanently disabled insured individuals and their spouses will receive medical benefits,” Vijayakumar noted, highlighting the government’s commitment to affordable healthcare.