‘49969 hospital beds in city in 2015-16, 20% rise from 2010’

NEW DELHI: The number of beds in Delhi hospitals increased to 49,969 in 2015-16, nearly 20 percent more than what it was six years ago, according to the latest Economic Survey of the national Capital released on Tuesday.

“The total number of hospital beds increased from 41,706 in 2010 to 49,969 in 2015-16 thereby also increasing the bed population ratio (beds per 1,000 persons) from 2.54 to 2.76 in the same period,” the survey says.

Besides, the Economic Survey 2016-17, also says that about 84.41 percent of the total births in the city were institutional in 2015. Seeking to boost the healthcare system, the AAP government recently joined hands with the 41 Nabh-accredited hospitals, where patients can seek surgery free of cost, if the waiting period in Delhi hospitals exceeds one month.

Last December, the government had tied up with eight private laboratories to facilitate free MRIS and CT scans for needy patients. “Important vital indicators like Infant Mortality Rate, Neo-natal Mortality Rate, Under Five Mortality Rate in respect of Delhi for the year 2015 stand at lower levels — 24 (CRS), 15 (CRS), and 24 (SRS) in comparison to the all-india levels, viz., 40, 16 and 29 respectively,” it said.

However, the Infant Mortality Rate (CRS) in Delhi has risen compared to the figure in 2013, when it stood at 22.

Sample Registration System (SRS) and Civil Registration System (CRS) are two of the major sources of vital statistics in the country.

The survey also says that the crude death rate (the total number of deaths per year per 1,000 people) in Delhi is also among the “lowest in the country” and life expectancy is on the higher side, at around 72 years.