The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ESI hospital upgrades facilities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 27, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

ESI hospital upgrades facilities

Ramya Kannan

Neonatal intensive care unit commissioned

MARCHING AHEAD: Neonatal intensive care unit at the ESI hospital. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: The ESI hospital at K.K.Nagar, the only one in the city that is run directly by the ESI Corporation, New Delhi, is upgrading its facilities to match the growing demands.

Among the changes the 330-bed hospital saw in the last two years are the commissioning of a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit and an air-conditioned labour room complex. Modern equipment, including video endoscope and audiometric, dental and ophthalmology tools, have been acquired.

"We want to create better facilities for our patients," says hospital director Sharadha Sharma. Many of the improvements have come in areas most sought after — obstetrics and gynaecology and childcare. In addition, departments such as ophthalmology and dentistry, that draw a steady stream of patients, have received attention.

Labour wards

"Our labour wards are full round the year. In some instances, we even have had to refer patients elsewhere. It is to meet the demand that we decided to pay attention to the labour units," Dr. Sharma explains.

The air-conditioned labour room is getting the final touches. A relatives' waiting room has also been set up.

An audio system, connected to the labour room, conveys information about births to the waiting room.

Regular services of the ESI are available to only a certain segment of the salaried classes in the private sector — those whose total emoluments do not exceed Rs.7,500 a month.

There is a proposal to increase this to Rs.10,000. Both the employee and employer contribute.

Dr. Sharma says even those not covered by the ESI are welcome to seek help and medical attention for any family welfare programme or in times of emergency or disaster.

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