Lok Sabha Question No. 1610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Shortage of Beds in Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SAKSHI SWAMI MAHARAJ, SANTOSH KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1610 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH MARCH, 2016

## SHORTAGE OF BEDS IN HOSPITALS

## 1610. DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ: SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

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

(a) whether there is a shortage of beds in hospitals across the country including All India Institute of medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and if so, the details thereof;

(b) w hether  India ranks lowest in the world in respect of availability of beds in hospitals per 1000 persons and if so, the de ails thereof;

(c) whether cases of harassment of patients have come to the notice of the Government due to unavailability of beds in hospitals including AIIMS, New Delhi and if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;

(d) whether the Government proposes to take concrete measures to reduce the shor age of beds in hospitals across the country incl uding AIIMS, New Delhi; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise?

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

(a): As per the provisional data of National Health Profile - 2015  compiled  by  the  Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), there are 6,75,779 beds available in Government hos including CHCs in rural and urban areasand 2,44,506 beds available in the H ospitals attached with Medical Colleges in the Country.

As far as AIIMS, New Delhi, and three Central Government Hospitals viz. Safdarjun Hospital, Dr. RML Hospital and LHMC and associated Hospitals in Delhi are concerned, t number of beds are satisf actory. However, the number of patients visiting to these Hospitals/Institute for treatment is much larger as compared to their handling capacity of number of beds, manpower and other resources. Despite availability of huge infrastructu othe r services in these Hospitals, there is a waiting period for certain procedures due t increasing pressure on infrastructure and available manpower in these hospitals, which from Department to Department in these Hospitals.

(c): No  patients  is  refused  treatment  due  to  unavailability  of  beds  by  any  of  the  C Government Hospitals.

(d)& (e):       Since Health is State subject, it is the responsibility of the State Government to make  efforts  for  increasing  the  bed  strength  in  the  Hospitals  under  their  jurisdi accordance with requirement and fund availability. However, the Central Government provi assistance  to  the  Sta te  Governments  in  their  efforts  to  provide  better  health  care  facilit people through various schemes such as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The Central Government has also decided to open new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences at dif nt locations of the country and up - gradation of existing medical institutions .

Expansion of existing facilities and creation of new facility in a Hospital is an -going process and is undertaken as per the requirement and availability of resources.

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