KALYAN: Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Tuesday announced that the government-run Central Hospital in Ulhasnagar will be redeveloped into a modern 500-bed multi-speciality hospital on the lines of the Thane District Civil Hospital. The announcement was made during the minister’s visit to the Central Hospital and the newly redeveloped ESIC (Kamgar) Hospital along with Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde to review healthcare infrastructure and ongoing projects in the region. During the inspection, Abitkar reviewed the existing facilities at the Central Hospital and directed officials to improve patient care and address shortcomings. MP Shinde instructed the health department and the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation to prepare a detailed project report for the redevelopment on a priority basis and submit it to the state government for approval. Shinde said the new hospital should also house a dedicated maternity hospital, enabling comprehensive healthcare services under one roof. He added that the existing hospital would undergo a complete audit and that necessary funds would be provided to upgrade medical infrastructure and essential services. The minister also reviewed the newly constructed ESIC Hospital building in Ulhasnagar. While the facility has a sanctioned capacity of 100 beds, Shinde proposed expanding it to 250-300 beds by constructing an additional floor to meet the growing healthcare needs of the city’s large working-class population. Officials said the upgraded ESIC Hospital is expected to become operational within the next six months. The hospital will offer advanced diagnostic facilities, including MRI, CT scan and a catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab). Patients will also be able to avail free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat and Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana schemes. Speaking on the recent assault on doctors at KDMC’s Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, Abitkar said the state government would strengthen the hospital by increasing the number of doctors and improving medical infrastructure to ensure better healthcare services.
