N. Appala Raju, the Vizianagaram district president of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), made an urgent plea to the government on Monday. He called for the establishment of an Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) dispensary within the bustling Pusapatirega industrial corridor in Vizianagaram district. This crucial facility would provide essential medical services to more than 35,000 workers who are currently forced to travel all the way to the Pydibhimavaram dispensary in Srikakulam district for their healthcare needs.
In a recent press release, Mr. Appala Raju highlighted the immense benefits such a dispensary would bring. Staffed with a full-fledged medical team, the ESIC facility would cater to employees from over 20 companies operating in the corridor, including major names like HBL Power Systems, Matrix Laboratories, SMS Pharmaceuticals Limited, Vizianagaram Biotech, and Veda Biotech.
He further elaborated, “We recently presented a memorandum to S. Dorai Raja, a member of the ESIC Central Board. In it, we specifically requested the dispensary be set up near Matrix junction to ensure easy access for all workers. Additionally, we appealed for local referral permissions, which would allow workers to be admitted to private hospitals in Vizianagaram during emergencies without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.”
Mr. Appala Raju emphasized the urgency, stating, “Presently, workers are required to obtain referral authorizations from ESIC authorities in Malkapuram, Visakhapatnam. This cumbersome process often leads to critical delays in admitting injured patients to private hospitals, potentially compromising their care.”