Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s govt healthcare facilities boast 76 beds per 10,000 population, surpassing the national average of 67, according to recent data presented in the Lok Sabha. The state maintains 46,237 beds in govt-run health facilities as of March 31, 2023. The figures are based on the 2011 Census data, which puts Gujarat’s population at 6.04 crore.
On the same parameters, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were among the top states with 127 and 113 beds per 10,000 population respectively among major states.
Medical college hospitals, which provide tertiary care, account for the largest share at 39% of total beds. Community health centres (CHCs) follow with 24%, while primary health centres (PHCs) make up 20%. Sub-district and district hospitals account for 10% and 7% respectively.
According to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, PHCs should have six indoor or observation beds serving 20,000-30,000 people, CHCs with 30 beds covering 80,000-1,20,000 people, sub-district hospitals with 31-100 beds covering 1 lakh-5 lakh citizens, and district hospitals with 101-500 beds to cover a population of up to 30 lakh.
“After Covid, infrastructure in the state received a major boost with an increase in the number of hospital beds. However, the need of the hour is to strengthen the grassroots healthcare system to reduce the burden on patients who often travel from across the state to cities such as Ahmedabad. There is an overall rise in non-communicable diseases, and early intervention may help reduce the societal burden with timely and affordable treatment,” said a public health expert.
