'Centre must give land for hospitals'

A K Walia, Delhi’s health minister on Thursday requested the centre to provide land for new hospitals at institutional rates. 

The city seems to be perennially short of adequate bedding in city hospitals. Walia lamented at the poor state of hospitals, pointing out that there are only 24,000 beds in government hospitals and 18,000 in private hospitals with nearly 40 per cent of patients coming from neighbouring states.

“Delhi government would like to add about 12 hospitals and at least three medical colleges in  future as new life style diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases,have emerged as a big threat” said Walia at a conference organised by ASSOCHAM.