Higher life expectancy, more beds

Infant mortality rate, neo-natal mortality rate lower than all-India average

Vital indicators such as infant mortality rate, neo-natal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate stand at lower levels in Delhi in comparison to the all-India rates, while the total fertility rate of 1.6 in Delhi is among the lowest in the country.

Crude death in the Capital is the lowest in India, and it has the second highest life expectancy of 73.8 years. This was revealed in the Economic Survey of Delhi 2017-18. which was tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Monday.

As per findings of the 71st round of NSS (State sample), the average expenditure incurred for treatment (medical and other expenditure) per hospitalised case by people in Delhi has been estimated at ₹25,553.

The national Capital is currently seeing the construction and planning of around 10 hospitals.

The survey also noted that a large number of patients from neighbouring States visit Delhi to avail quality health care facilities.

New hospitals

“Besides new hospitals, existing hospitals will be remodelled to enhance bed strength. At the end of 2016-17, total bed capacity was 53,329, which translates into 10,000 additional beds since 2011,” the survey said.

It also noted that maternal and child health care services need to be strengthened to achieve 100% institutional births and universal immunisation coverage.

“The proportion of institutional deliveries was 86.74%, while fully immunised children was 86%. These proportions are improving and all essential measures need to be adopted to achieve better results,” noted the survey.

Delhi has also been the best performing State in terms of achieving international objectives to detect new infectious TB patients at 70% and above.

Fight against TB

The State has been able to bring down the death rate due to tuberculosis to 3% (all India figure 4%) among new infected patients, to 2% (4% all India) among new sputum negative patients, and 1% (2% all India) among new extra pulmonary cases. Delhi has been treating the maximum number of children suffering from TB at the rate of 14% against 6% all-India figures, said the report.

“The Delhi State Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme is the first in the country to have base line drug sensitivity to second line drugs in all cases of MDR TB,” noted the survey.