Lok Sabha Question No. 325 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-24
Subject: Waiting Time for Surgeries in Government Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY, SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 325 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH MARCH, 2017

## WAITING TIME FOR SUR GERIES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

## *325.SHRI HARI OM PANDAY: SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  normative  and  actual  time  taken for  performing  various  surgeries  in Government hospitals in the recent past along with the waiting period for the same;
- (b)  whether  a  large  number  of  surgeries are  yet  to  be  conducted  in  various Central Government Hospitals including All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Ram Manohar Lohia and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the correct ive steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT - wise;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  provide  financial  assistance  for surgeries to patients belonging to poor and marginalized segment of the society; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA )

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 325* FOR 24 TH MARCH, 2017

(a)and ( b): There  is  no  specific norm  for  performing  surgeries.  However, emergency cases, such surgeries are performed immediately on priority in Central Government Hospitals/Institutes. In respect of routine surgeries, there is a waiting period for certain pro cedures due to the ever increasing pressure on infrastructure  and  available  manpower  in  these  hospitals,  which  varies Department to Department in these Hospitals.

It  is  a  fact  that  t he  number  of  patients  visiting Central  Government Hospitals  and  Ins titutions  including A ll  India  Institute of Medical  Sciences (AIIMS),  New  Delhi,  P ost  Graduate  Institute  of  Medical  Education  and Research (P GIMER ) , Chandigarh ,and Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. R am Manohar Lohia  (R ML ) Hospital  and  L ady  Hardinge  Medical  College (LHMC ) and associated Hospitals for surgery and treatment is much larger as compare their  handling  capacity  in  terms  of  number  of  beds,  manpower  and  oth resources. Despite availability of huge infrastructure and other services Hospitals,  the re  is  a  waiting  period  for  certain  procedures  due  to  the increasing pressure on infrastructure and available manpower in these hosp which  varies  from  Department  to  Department  in  these  Hospitals.  As  suc various Clinical Departments make their o wn waiting lists of patients in need of admission  taking  into  consideration  the  condition  of  patients,  urgen treatment required and bed availability on a particular day .

(c): Expansion of existing facilities and creation of new facility in a H is an on - going process and is undertaken as per the requirement and availabi of resources. Projects for augmentation of capacity have also been approv the three Central Government hospitals namely Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. RM Hospital and LHMC an d associated Hospitals.

In addition, theGovernment is setting up new AIIMS in various States to provide  tertiary  care  to  the  general  public  in  the  respective  States Besides  this, Government  have  also  taken  up up- gradation of  existing Government medical college institutions in the first phase under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) , which include improving health infrastructure through construction of Super Speciality Blocks/Trauma cen etc. and procurement of medical equipment for existing as well as new faciliti

These initiatives will progressively bring down the patient load on Hospitals  in  the  coming  years  leading  to  reduction  of  waiting  pe substantially as the inflow of the patients from distant areas to these hospitals will be reduced.

(d) and (e): Health  is  a  State  subject  and  it  is  the  responsibility  of  th Government to make efforts to provide adequate health care facilities to p However,  the patients  belonging  to below  pov erty  line  are  provided  medical treatment free of cost in the Hospitals/Institutes like Safdarjung Hospi RML  Hospital  and  Lady  Hardinge  Medical  College  &  Associated  Hospitals, NIMHANS,  Bengaluru,  AIIMS,  Rishikesh,AIIMS,  Raipur,  AIIMS,  Bhopal, AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar,  etc.  In  addition,  poor  patients  are  also  provi financial assistance from National  Illness  Assistance,  Prime  Minister's Relief Funds, Relief funds of various Ministries, etc.

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