Thoothukudi 100-bed ESIC Hospital to open by March 2026
Thoothukudi ESIC Hospital
Thoothukudi: The long-awaited Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospital at the SIPCOT area in Thoothukudi is set to become operational by the end of March 2026, officials said. With 98% of construction work already completed, the 100-bed facility is expected to provide much-needed medical services to ESIC cardholders in the district.
Although the foundation stone was laid in 2014, the project stalled for over six years before being revived in 2022, with an estimated cost of around Rs 150 crore. The construction was executed in two phases: the first focused on the compound wall, while the second involved civil works for the hospital building.
Also Read:Maharashtra to provide land free of cost for ESIC Hospitals
A senior official from the ESIC Regional Office, Chennai, confirmed that construction work is progressing steadily and stated that the hospital will gradually introduce super-speciality treatments.
“The hospital’s staff strength will adhere to ESIC norms for 100-bedded facilities, with departments, including general surgery, paediatrics, diabetology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and others,” he added. He further noted that upon the commencement of operation, based on the patient footfall, additional medical services and facilities anticipated by the patients would be reviewed, and measures would be taken to upgrade the facility further, reports the Hindu.
Despite assurances last August from A. Venu Gopal, Regional Director (in charge), ESIC Chennai, that the hospital would be operational by the end of 2025, it has yet to begin functioning.
Highlighting this issue in the Lok Sabha, Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi pointed out that while the facility is 98% complete, the delay in operationalisation is due to the absence of staff in key departments, including the outpatient department.
Also Read:ESI Super Speciality Hospital at Goshamahal stalled for 10 years
