Lok Sabha Question No. 2068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Overcrowding in Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya Gavit

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2018

## OVERCROWDING IN HOSP ITALS

## 2068. SHRI RAJENDRA D. GAVIT:

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

- (a) whether the hospitals in the country are overcrowded due to mismanagement on part of the hospitals and lack of adequate preparation in mplementation of various health schemes by the Government;
- (b) if s o, the details thereof and corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared any study report in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)to (d): Health is a State subject and no such information is maintained centrally. the responsibility of the respective State/Union Territories (UTs) Governme Administration to create adequate infrastructure/ manpo wer to avoid overcrowding of the hospitals. However, the Central Government supplements their efforts by way of provid assistance  to  the  States/UTs  for  creation/upgradation  of  health  care  infrastructure various schemes like National Health Mission (NHM), etc. The implementation of NHM is also done by States/UTs. No such report regarding overcrowding due to mismanagement ha been brought to notice in the recent past.

Under  Ayushman  Bharat,  Sub  Centers  and  Primary  Health  Centers  are  being strength ened  as  Health  and  Wellness  Centers  (HWCs)  for  provision  of  comprehensive primary care with continuum of care approach close to the community. In the Operatio Guidelines  for  Comprehensive  primary  care,  it  is  envisaged  that  among  others,  a  st networkof HWCs at the sub district level would facilitate resolving more cases at pr level and reduce overcrowding at secondary and tertiary facilities for follow up cases as serve a gate keeping function to higher - level facilities.

As  far  as  thre e  Central  Government  Hospitals  viz.  Safdarjung  Hospital,  Dr.  RML Hospital and LHMC and associated Hospitals are concerned, the number of patients visit for surgery and treatment in these Institutes/Hospitals is much larger as compared t handlingcapacity  in  terms  of  number  of  beds,  manpower  and  other  resources.  This overcrowding is not due to mismanagement or lack of adequate preparation in implementation of various health schemes but due to the huge number of patients who co to these hospitals for treatment, not only from Delhi but also from neighbouring states.

Despite availability of huge infrastructure and other services in these Hospital is  a  waiting  period  for  certain  procedures  due  to  the  ever  increasing  pressur infrastructu re and available manpower in these hospitals, which varies from Department t Department in these Hospitals.

Expansion  of  existing  facilities  and  creation  of  new  facility  in  a  Hospital ongoing  process  and  is  undertaken  as  per  the  requirement  and  a vailability  of  resources. Projects  for  augmentation  of  capacity  have  also  been  approved  in  the  three  Cen Government  hospitals  namely  Safdarjung  Hospital,  Dr.  RML  Hospital  and  LHMC  and associated Hospitals. Super Specialty Block with 807 beds and New Em ergency Block with 500  beds  constructed  under  redevelopment  plan  of  Safdarjung  Hospital  have  start functioning w.e.f. 29 th June, 2018 and 07 th February, 2018 respectively.

In addition, the Central Government has also set up 6 new AIIMS at Jodhpur, Bhop Bhubaneshwar,  Rishikesh,  Raipur  and  Patna  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Swasthya  Suraksha Yojana  (PMSSY).  Government  has  also  taken  up  up -gradation  of  existing  Government Medical Co lleges of States.