Healthcare: India lags behind WTO norms

India seriously lags behind other nations when it comes to healthcare as per the guidelines set by the World Trade Organisation, Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri said on Wednesday.

"On the basis of the standards set by WTO on healthcare, we are way behind most nations, be it on the requisite number of beds in hospitals, or medical facilities available," Shastri said at the inauguration of a 24-bed free medical block in New Delhi.

The block, a corporate-social initiative of the Max Balaji Healthcare will cater to the needs of below poverty line population in trans-yamuna areas.

Maintaining that tertiary healthcare facility was a must for the 40 lakh people living in East Delhi, Delhi Finance Minister A K Walia said lack of proper hospitals and heavy traffic made it very difficult for critical patients living across the Yamuna to avail quality and timely medical services elsewhere.

The block, having four wards with six beds each will offer free services, including consultation, beds, surgery, and OPD at a subsidised registration fee, Analjit Singh, chairman, Max Healthcare said.

Developed at a cost of Rs 34 lakhs, it will solely cater to patients who are below the poverty line, whose claim to free treatment will be ascertained by a committee set up by the hospital and on production of BPL cards, he said.