There are 26000 government hospitals in India and only one bed on average 1700 patients

New Delhi, March 27, 2020, Friday

Lock-down is being observed across the country in the wake of the epidemic of Corona virus. The only way people can avoid congestion is to avoid congestion. The virus is transmitted not by air but by exposure to corona-positive patients. In India on March 3, 2020, there were only 5 cases of coronas in India, which turned out to be 27 the next day. At present, more than 600 cases have been reported.

It is important to know how many medical facilities and hospitals India has under the circumstances of the epidemic if the infection is spread by those who have suffered the infection before lockdown. It is also important to understand how the situation will arise if the disease has reached the countryside especially in rural areas. According to the National Health Profile 2019 data, there are a total of 26000 government hospitals in India, out of which 21000 thousand are in rural areas while 5000 are in urban areas whereas the ratio of patients and beds in hospitals is worrying.

1700 patients are A1 bed in urban areas of India. Speaking of rural areas, 3100 patients have 1 bed. The state of Bihar is the worst if we calculate state-wise. According to the 2011 census there are 10 million people living in rural areas. There are 1 bed with 16000 patients. Talking about Tamil Nadu, there are 40179 beds in rural areas and 690 hospitals in total. According to this figure, one bed in Tamil Nadu has an average of 800 patients. According to Rural Health Statistics, there is an allopathic doctor available in every 26000 people in rural areas of India, whereas according to the World Health Organization rules, on average 1000 patients between doctors and patients should have 1 doctor.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, there are 116 government laboratories with ICMR approval, with 89 operational labs for Covid-19 testing while 27 labs are in the process of being operational. Talking about Maharashtra where the highest number of coronary virus patients have been observed, 4 out of the 8 government sanctioned testing labs are in Mumbai, 3 in Pune and 1 in Nagpur. Nagpur lab is about 170 km away from the inland rural areas of Garh Chiroli district, considered to be Maharashtra's inland.

The center near Pune to the southern district of Kolhapur which is 230 km away. Due to the limited number of test centers, testing is very difficult for people in rural areas. Even in poorer states like Bihar, there are only 5 Testing Laboratories where Covid-19 can be tested while 3 centers are in Patna while 2 are in Darbhanga. Darbhanga is 250 km away from Kishanganj whereas for testing from North Western Champaran the patient has to come to Darbhanga located 230 km away. Thus, in case of an outbreak of epidemic like corona in rural areas of states like Bihar, it is important to consider the medical facilities including laboratory to hospital and bed.