Crisis at Rayagada ESI Hospital: Services halted amid severe staff shortage
Published By : Bratati Baral
| June 7, 2025 4:07 PM
Rayagada, June 7: The ESI Hospital in J.K. Pur is facing a major healthcare crisis due to an acute shortage of doctors, nurses, and essential staff. Despite regular salary deductions from workers for ESI services, the hospital has suspended emergency care, drawing sharp criticism from employees and locals.
A notice on the hospital wall cites the staff crunch as the reason for halting emergency services, advising patients to seek treatment elsewhere. The hospital, which caters to nearly 13,000 people including 3,000 JK Paper Mill employees, now struggles to handle even basic care.
Out of 67 sanctioned posts, only 36 are filled. Of 14 doctor positions, just 3 are occupied. Only one nurse serves where 8 are needed, and only 3 of 35 beds are functional. The kitchen is shut due to a vacant cook post, leaving in-patients without meals.
Even as critical patients are turned away, 1% to 1.5% is still deducted monthly from workers’ wages for ESI benefits.
Hospital Superintendent Biraching Narayan Panda confirmed the situation and said multiple requests for staff recruitment have been sent to the government. CITU Vice-President Gagan Bihari Panda questioned the continued neglect despite adequate funding.
The crisis highlights a deeper failure in delivering healthcare to insured workers under the ESI Act, as government inaction persists despite growing outrage.
