The directive to shift the ESI Hospital from Ashoknagar to Yamnapur, issued on January 29, has now been suspended. The Secretary to the Labor Minister has instructed that the hospital will continue operating in its current location until further notice. This decision has sparked mixed reactions from citizens, as the Ashoknagar building is in a dangerous condition.
Despite the earlier order to relocate the hospital within five days, no action was taken even after 12 days. The hospital caters to over 3.5 lakh beneficiaries and over 10 lakh insurance account holders, providing essential medical services, including laboratory and scanning facilities.
On February 6, MLA Asif Sait submitted a letter to Labor Minister Santosh Lad, urging the cancellation of the relocation until a suitable alternative was found. As a result, the shifting process has been put on hold.
The government had sanctioned funds for constructing a new hospital building due to the deteriorating condition of the current facility. However, patient services needed to be relocated before this construction could begin. Efforts to find a new location for the hospital have been ongoing for three years, with Yamnapur being identified as a potential site. However, opposition from beneficiaries, who feared a lack of accessible treatment, led to the suspension of the move.
While Yamnapur was initially selected for relocation, a request was made to find an alternative site within the existing hospital premises. Following this appeal, the shifting process has been halted, leaving patients to continue receiving treatment in the unsafe Ashoknagar building.