GURUGRAM: The city’s healthcare facilities and infrastructure are often rated world-class, which is reflected by its popularity in India’s burgeoning medical tourism destination map. Yet, a GMDA internal study shows that with much of the facilities in the private sector, only 25% of hospital beds in the city are affordable for its middle and lower-middle class. The detailed report was prepared as part of the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) healthcare project in Sector 67.According to official figures, Gurugram has over 90 small, medium and large hospitals with a combined capacity of 5,440 beds. However, only 1,360 beds are deemed affordable to the middle and lower-middle classes. According to the Indian Health Public Standards, there should be 3.33 beds per 1,000 people, based on which, Gurugram should have 6,660 beds.The annual OPD inflow, which was 2.8 million in 2017, is expected to grow to 7 million by 2030. In that same period, the demand for admitted patients is expected to go up from 180,000 to 450,000, with affordable healthcare indicating the highest demand. “Our internal assessment has thrown these numbers, which is why we’ve come up with a first-of-its-kind institutional model. If it’s successful, it can be replicated elsewhere to bridge the gap between supply and demand,” said GMDA chief V Umanshankar.Quoting the example of the Sector 10 Civil Hospital, Umashankar said they could build another Civil Hospital in the city, but it wouldn’t solve the city’s healthcare problems. Hence, it was decided to conceptualise a model that can be replicated to provide quality yet affordable healthcare.The numbers further suggest the requirement for beds in 2017 was 3,000, which is expected to grow to 7,000 in 2030. The figures don’t include demand generated from other districts. The shortage of affordable healthcare, quality infrastructure and staff at Civil Hospital leaves the middle and lower-middle classes worse off. The Civil Hospital building has been a shambles for years, with the roof on the verge of collapsing. But its redevelopment is stuck in bureaucracy.The city has another public sector hospital in Sector 10, but there aren’t enough doctors there. There is also a ESI Hospital and several ESI dispensaries, but they are also in a deplorable state, forcing workers to go to private hospitals. “We’re also coming up with a medical college in Sector 102. I think these projects will be able to address the demand for affordable healthcare permanently,” said Umashankar.

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