Visakhapatnam Could Become Home to Andhra's First ESI Medical College
A central team from the Employees' State Insurance Corporation visited Visakhapatnam last week. They studied the feasibility of establishing the first ESI medical college in Andhra Pradesh. This development follows the state's bifurcation, which left Andhra without its own ESI medical institution.
Malkapuram Hospital Emerges as Prime Location
State authorities have identified the ESI hospital at Malkapuram as the most suitable site. This 125-bed facility sits near the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited plant. Officials submitted proposals eighteen months ago to increase its bed strength to two hundred.
The hospital superintendent, Dr. Phanindra, confirmed the central team's assessment. The team collected necessary data and evaluated the location thoroughly. Authorities now propose removing dilapidated staff quarters on the premises to make space for the new college.
Project Details and Proposed Timeline
The planned medical college would offer fifty seats for students. If all approvals proceed without delays, construction could begin within two years. The central ESI has formally requested the state government to temporarily hand over the hospital for this ambitious project.
This initiative represents a significant upgrade for healthcare infrastructure in the port city. The Malkapuram hospital currently serves a massive population. It provides care for nearly twenty lakh beneficiaries, including families of 5.5 lakh ESI card holders.
Historical Context and Current ESI Infrastructure
The ESI system launched in 1952 to provide health security for industrial workers. The Corporation established the Malkapuram hospital in 1972 on ten acres of land. Four acres were allocated for the hospital building, while six acres housed staff quarters now in poor condition.
Andhra Pradesh currently operates four functional ESI hospitals. These are located in Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, and Tirupati. The state has ambitious plans to expand this network with seven new hospitals.
Planned new ESI hospitals include:- Guntur
- Vizianagaram
- Kakinada
- Penukonda
- Sri City
- Nellore
- Atchutapuram in Anakapalli district
Additional Healthcare Projects in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is preparing for further healthcare expansion. Authorities plan a four hundred-bedded ESI hospital at Gajuwaka. The Atchutapuram project has reached the land allotment stage, indicating steady progress in medical infrastructure development.
This potential medical college would fill a crucial gap. Hyderabad retained the existing ESI medical college after state bifurcation. Andhra Pradesh has waited for its own institution since that division. The Visakhapatnam project now brings that possibility closer to reality.
