Lok Sabha Question No. 4360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Shortage of Hospital Beds
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4360 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH DECEMBER, 2024

## SHORTAGE OF HOSPITALBEDS

## 4360. ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the National Health Policy 2017 recommends a minimum of at least two hospital beds per 1000 people in the country whereas the current availability stands at approximately 0.6 beds per 1000 people;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether specific data/assessments have been conducted to identify the regions most affected by this critical deficiency in healthcare infrastructure;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the concrete measures being implemented to rectify this shortage of hospital beds, particularly in rural and underserved areas where the need is most acute?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e) National Health Policy 2017 recommends availability of 2 beds per 1000 population. However, the number of beds in public health facilities are guided by the population norms mentioned in the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) laid down by the Government of India.

Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS 2022) recommend provision of minimum of 1 bed per 1000 population and 2 per 1000 as desirable. As per IPHS norms, Primary Health Centre (PHC) with 6 indoor/ observation beds is to be established to cover 20,000 to 30,000 population, Community Health Centres (CHC) with 30 beds to cover population of 80,000-1,20,000, Sub-District Hospitals with 31-100 beds to cover population of 1,00,000 - 5,00,000 and District Hospital with 101-500 beds to cover population upto 30,00,000.

Health Dynamics of India (HDI) (Infrastructure & Human Resources), formerly known as Rural Health Statistics, based on Health care administrative data reported by States/UTs states that there were 8,18,661 beds at PHC, CHC, Sub District Hospital, District Hospital and Medical Colleges in India as on 31.03.2023.

It is primary responsibility of the State/Union Territories(UTs) to make efforts for increasing bed strength in the hospitals under their jurisdiction in accordance with requirement and fund availability. However, the Central Government provides assistance to the State Governments in their efforts to provide better health care facilities to people through various schemes. The details of the schemes are as under:

 National Health Mission (NHM): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

-  PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) : Under the Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) components of the scheme, support for 100 and 50-bedded Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) at district hospitals or medical colleges for an amount of Rs.11614.71 Crore have been accorded to States/UTs for FY 2021-22 to 2024-25 for setting up of 395 CCBs. Under Central Sector component of PM-ABHIM, 150 bedded Critical Care Blocks are envisaged to be established in 12 AIIMS and Institute of National Importance (INIs).
-  India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package II (ECRP-II): The Cabinet has also approved the scheme, 'India Covind-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package-II' (ECRP-II) on 08 th July 2021 for an amount of Rs.23,123 crore for the F.Y. 2021-22. Under ECRP-II to respond to the bed availability during Covid-19 pandemic, the following sanctions were given to the States/UTs to improve bed availability in Public Sector Hospitals including Medical Colleges. The details are as under:
-  Total 37,834 ICU beds inclusive of 9,873 Pediatric ICU Beds, 7,008 Pediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU) Beds, 20,953 Adult ICU Beds in Medical Colleges, District Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Hospitals.
-  Additional 124,859 beds at the existing CHCs, PHCs and Sub Health Centres (6-20 bedded units); 19,337 Oxygen supported Pediatric beds; Field hospitals (50-100 bedded units) with 20,102 Beds.
-  26 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) (50 bedded) in Hilly States in the Hilly and North Eastern State/UTs.
-  15 th Finance Commission (FC-XV): The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the heath sector to the tune of Rs.70,051 crore and the same have been accepted by the Union Government. These grants for health through Local Governments will be spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-26 and will facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.
-  The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY): It aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable teritiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. The scheme has two components, namely, (i) Setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS); and (ii) Up-gradation of existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions (GMCIs). So far setting up of 22 New AIIMS and 75 projects of upgradation of GMCIs have been approved under the scheme in various phases.
-  Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 'Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals', a total of 157 Medical Colleges have been approved in the country.

These measures has improved the overall Public Health infrastructure in the country, including the number of beds for accessible and affordable quality healthcare.

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