Question : Status of Hospital Beds

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

(a) the details of beds in Government hospitals as of 1st March, 2020, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the States/UTs struggled to provide beds, beds with oxygen and ventilator to COVID patients in the first few months of the pandemic, if so, the details of availability of normal and oxygen beds and also ventilators as of 1st September, 2020, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has received mobile ventilators from many countries free of cost particularly from USA to combat COVID-19 pandemic;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the number of such ventilators received and distributed State/UT-wise along with criteria opted for such disbursal;
(e) whether the Government has sanctioned Rs. 15,000 crores health emergency package to deal with COVID pandemic; and
(f) if so, the details of amount sanctioned for creating more beds, including oxygen beds and ventilators?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b) Public Health & Hospitals being State subjects, no such information is maintained centrally.
As far as three Central Government Hospitals in Delhi namely Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) & Associated Hospitals and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi are concerned, the details of beds as of 1st March, 2020 are as follows:
S.No Name of Hospital No. of beds
1 Safdarjung 2873
2 RML 1572
3 LHMC & Associated Hospitals 1272
4 AIIMS, New Delhi 2733

As far as these hospitals are concerned, no shortage of beds, beds with oxygen and ventilators have been reported. The details of availability of beds and ventilators in these hospitals are as under:

S.No Name of Hospital Normal & Oxygen beds Ventilators
1 Safdarjung 276 41
2 RML 199 28
3 LHMC & Associated Hospitals 67 17
4 AIIMS,
New Delhi 1515 223


(c) & (d): Yes. USA has sent 200 nos. of Transport Ventilators to India in two lots through USAID to fight COVID-19. These ventilators have been delivered to 29 Central Govt Hospitals under various Ministries and new AIIMS located across India. Details are given in Annexure.

(e) & (f): Under “India COVID 19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package” Rs.15000 crores has been allocated. Public Health & Hospitals, being State subjects; the primary responsibility of strengthening of healthcare system including creation of more beds, oxygen beds and ventilators lies with respective State Government. However, States/UTs are being provided required technical and financial assistance for managing the COVID-19 Public Health Challenge from time to time. All the States/UTs are provided with necessary financial support under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package based on the number of COVID cases. During FY 2020-21, funds of Rs 4256.81 crore have been released to the States/ UTs as on 10.09.2020. The funds released to States/ UTs can be utilised as per their felt needs and priorities. Funds are not released specifically for any activity.