Link Government district hospitals with the private medical colleges under Public Private Partnership
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1143
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD DECEMBER, 2021
LINKING OF GOVERNMENT DISTRICT HOSPITAL WITH PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGES
1143: MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI
SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
a) whether the Government is going to link Government district hospitals with the private medical colleges under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model;
b) if so, the details thereof;
c) whether the Government is aware that this move to commercialize public health system will convert almost half of the hospital beds into paid beds and further reduce poor people‘s access to public health institutions;
d) if so, reaction of Government thereon;
e) whether the Government is facing scarcity in resources and finances to meet the basic health needs of common citizens; and
f) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
a) to (f) Government of India has been considering linking Government district hospitals with the private medical colleges under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The Establishment of medical colleges in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode has been allowed under the National Medical Commission Regulations. Clause 2(5) of the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999 prescribes that the appropriate Government may allow the utilisation of the facilities of the hospital owned and managed by it for establishing a Medical College by a person/ agency/ trust/ society/ company by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding for this purpose. The hospital to be transferred should be minimum 300 beds with necessary infrastructural facilities capable of being developed into teaching institution for the purpose of medical college. It has been prescribed that while transferring the Government Hospital facility, the State Government may safeguard the interest of State particularly in respect of admission of students under Government Quota in the medical college, patient care and implementation of all government health programme in affiliated hospital of medical college Government of India has taken various steps to strengthen the health care system.
The National Health Policy-2017 recommends progressively achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and minimizing disparities on account of gender, poverty, caste, disability, all forms of social and geographical barriers. Government of India proposes establishment of 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) by December 2022, as the platform to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) closer to the home. Under Ayushman Bharat, the existing Sub-health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are being transformed into AB-HWCs to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services which is universal, free and close to the community.
The Government has continued to allocate more funds to strengthen the National Health Mission (NHM). Rs.31,100.00 Crores have been allocated to NHM during the year2021-22 BE as against Rs.27,989.00 Crores in 2020-21 BE i.e. an increase of 11.1%.
Further to strengthen the Public Health Infrastructure, the following initiatives have been taken:
- Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package under Rs. 8257.88 Crs have been provisioned to provide support to States/UTs which includes funds for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network and surveillance etc.
- In addition, ‘Provisions have also been ensured in India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package; Phase-II having and outlay of Rs. 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central component & Rs. 8,123 Cr as State Component) to support to State/ UT level including for ramping up health infrastructure including those in rural, tribal and peri-urban areas closer to the community. The number of hospital beds & ICU including HDUs for paediatric care are ramped up in the ECRP-II also in addition to other activities.
- Further, PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crores till 2025-26 envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to safeguard against future public health emergencies by focusing in health infrastructure.