India will require investment to the tune of USD 100 billion to make one more bed available to every 1,000 of its population,according to a report. At present,India has just 1.1 beds for every 1,000 citizens and it is way below the global average of 2.6 beds,the report - Accessible Healthcare,Joining the dots now - prepared jointly by Technopak and Philips said. "India requires an investment of USD 100 billion to increase its current bed capacity to 2.1 beds per 1,000 population," it said. The investment required for improving healthcare infrastructure and resources will be funded through public and private sources,it added. Public funding in the sector is expected to go up gradually from the current level of 1.3 per cent of the nation's GDP,the report said. "Private funding will be from a combinations of corporate investments,private equity,foreign direct investment by international hospital chains," it said,adding that 50 per cent of the financing of hospitals in India is usually done through long-term bank loans. Highlighting the need to expand healthcare services in smaller towns,the report emphasised that over five lakh beds are required in Tier II and III cities. Besides,India has a severe shortfall of workforce in the healthcare sector despite having about eight lakh doctors and 14 lakh nurses at present. "WHO norms for developing countries,translates to a shortfall of 7 lakh and 17 lakh doctors and nurses respectively for India. Besides doctors and nurses,there is also a shortage of paramedical and administrative staff," Tehnopak said in the report. In order to encourage more participation in the sector,the report asked government to provide incentives such as according priority status. "A healthcare upgradation and new investment fund should be establish giving interest subsidy for approved investments in the healthcare sector," it added.
