Parliament Question: Assessment of the gap in hospital bed capacity in the country

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2849 TOBE ANSWERED ONTHE 17.03.2026 ASSESSMENTOFTHE GAPIN HOSPITALBED CAPACITYIN THE COUNTRY 2849DR. KANIMOZHI NVN SOMU: Will the Ministerof HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate: (a) whether Government hasassessed the gapinhospital bedcapacityinthe country, including the current bed-to-populationratiocompared with globalnorms; (b) the estimatesof additionalhospital bedsneeded,particularly inrural andunderserved regions, State-wise; and (c) the steps takenor proposed toincrease bedcapacityinGovernment and private sectors and toensure equitabledistribution of hospital infrastructure? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a)to(c): Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS 2022) recommends provision of 1 bed per 1000population. As perIPHS norms, Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Primary Health Centre (AAM-PHC) with 6 indoor/ observation beds is to be established to cover 20,000 to 30,000 population, Community Health Centres (CHCs) 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 andDistrict Hospital with 101-500 bedstocover populationupto30,00,000. Health Dynamics of India (HDI) 2022-23 (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 andMedical CollegesinIndia ason31.03.2023. The details of State/Union Territories (UTs) wise availability of hopsital beds in the country are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator(URL) asunder: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastr ucture%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdfIt 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/UT Governments in their efforts to provide better health care facilities to people through variousschemes. The details of the schemesare asunder:  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 proposalintheform ofRecordofProceedings(RoPs)aspernorms&availableresources.  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.18,799.21 Crore have been accorded to States/UTs for FY 2021-22 to 2025-26 for setting up of 621 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 “India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package”: Phase II for Rs.23,123 Crore. The ECRP-II has the Central Sector (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) components. Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) includes central Share as well as State Share. Under the Central Sponsored, components include support to State/UTlevel through NHM Framework with a State Share as is applicable in NHM.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 detailsare asunder:  Total 37,834 ICU beds inclusive of 9,873 Pediatric ICU Beds, 7,008 Pediatric High DependencyUnit (HDU) Beds, 20,953Adult ICU BedsinMedical Colleges, District Hospitals andSub-Divisional Hospitals.  26 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) (50 bedded) in Hilly States in the Hilly and North EasternState/UTs.  15th 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. Under FC XV Health Sector Grants, 2673 Building -less PHCsapprovedfor anamount of Rs 3652.65Crore for FY2021-22 toFY2025-26.  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 twocomponents, 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 approvedunderthe scheme invarious phases.  Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for ‘Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’, a totalof 157 Medical Colleges have beenapprovedinthe country. ******