The existence of unregistered private nursing homes in Delhi, estimated to be at least 30%, highlights the depth of the deterioration in the healthcare system. This reinforces the recent observations made by the Delhi High Court, which stated that the city’s health infrastructure, including the availability of NICU beds, is insufficient.
The report submitted by a committee constituted by the High Court said, “Doubling and tripling is a norm in neonatal units, and this definitely affects the quality of patient care/patient satisfaction.”
The primary reason private nursing homes continue to thrive is that private healthcare in large hospitals is unaffordable for the average person, while government hospitals lack the capacity to meet the demands of Delhi’s residents. The figures speak for themselves. While the daily charges of NICU care in a good private corporate hospital in Delhi are around Rs 50,000-75,000, the smaller nursing homes charge around Rs 10,000-12,000 per day. This makes them a viable option for those with limited funds who desire to give the best to their families.
According to the secretary-general of the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), Dr Surender Singh Bisht, at least 3 lakh children are born every year in Delhi, and 10% of them need NICU care, while 3-5% may require ventilator care. “Those in the middle- and lower middle-class can’t afford such facilities in big hospitals and govt hospitals lack the infrastructure, leaving them with no option but to opt for these nursing homes,” he said.
He added that there are 260 NNF-accredited hospitals across the country including 16 in Delhi which follow stringent international levels of NICU standards.
“Neonatal intensive care, as well as adult intensive care, are both highly resource-intensive specialised care. These are unaffordable in the private for-profit sector for nearly 90% of India’s population. The alternative to this situation is not the presence of inadequately and inappropriately staffed NICUs or ICUs, with units that are inadequate and under-trained staffed. It requires change at multiple levels,” Dr Sumit Ray, medical director and head of critical care medicine at Holy Family Hospital, said.
He added that an increase in the number of accessible and accountable units in govt setups, as well as well-regulated setups in the private sector, is necessary. This ensures that the quality of care is maintained while controlling costs and checking profiteering.
Dr RD Srivastava, head of the department and senior consultant in paediatric medicine and neonatology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said: “The presence of a mother in the NICU is highly beneficial. Her presence offers emotional support and comfort to the baby, positively impacting the infant’s recovery and well-being.”
Normally, neonatal care is required for premature births, low birth weight, delivery complications, congenital abnormalities, respiratory issues, infections and metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia, said Dr Bilal Khan, paediatrician at Narayana Super Speciality Hospital.
(With TOI inputs)
