International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 DISPARITY OF HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE: DISTRICTWISE ANALYSIS IN WEST BENGAL. Tanmoy Biswas Ph.D Research scholar Department of Geography, Adamas University, Barasat. Email- [email protected] Abstract: Health is the most important wealth in human development. Development of health infrastructure is influencing development to health status which is a major indicator for determining the human development index. Health infrastructure is rapidly increasing in West Bengal, but it is not equally developing among all districts of the state. It is seen that Kolkata, the smallest district and capital of the state consumed the highest health care utility rather any districts of West Bengal. As a result, people from other districts suffering from inadequate health infrastructure. Health care disparities have occurred and people are moving to access health care. Perhaps, the government is taking some major initiatives to reduce this problem. This paper is solely based on secondary data and full research paper organized by MS office-7. The paper attempts to investigate the overall health scenario and try to identifying compares between different district’s healthcare conditions in West Bengal. Keyword: Healthcare infrastructure, Healthcare disparity, Medical Institutions, Districts, West Bengal. 1. Introduction: Health status is directly influenced by the socio-economic condition of any region. West Bengal is one of a major state in India. Healthcare scenario, as well as healthcare infrastructure, is not equal to all districts of West Bengal. Most of the health institutions, the Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1359 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 manpower of health and other facilities regarding health care have highly concentrated only in urban areas in the state. But, people in rural areas are suffering a lot due to lack of health care infrastructure. The study attempts to evaluate not only the healthcare scenario but also analysis the compares between the different districts wise health care status in West Bengal. 2. Location map of the study area: The study area situated under 210 25’ N to 270 13’ N and 850 50’ E to 890 50’ N. Total area of the study area is 88752 sq.k.m and the total population is 91347736 (according to 2011 census). Population density is 1029/sq.k.m and this area situated under humid and temperate region which is commonly called tropical monsoon region. West Bengal situated at the western part of India and Northern hemisphere. 3. Literature Review- Ghatak, S.&Das, P.P(2012).investigate about the status or rural health care and the hidden disparity: A study of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. This research paper mainly discusses block-wise disparities of health infrastructure and manpower resource availability in 19 blocks of Sundarbans region according to 2011 Census data sources. Panda.S.etal(2016) discuss concerning public health situation of under-nutrition in children and anaemia in a woman in India Sundarbans delta: a community based cross-sectional investigation. Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1360 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 Das, J. et al (2016) investigate the impact of training informal healthcare providers in India: a randomized controlled trial. The main theme of the research is the role of self-declared “doctors” in rural India’s health system and they have no medical training. A large portion of people also depends on them. Roy. S.K. et al (2017) discuss and assessment of rural health in West Bengal as well as focus on a various system of treatment. In the tribal area, medical infrastructure is very weak and essential medical facilities are adequate. Ghatak.S and Das, P.P (2012) investigate abut status of rural health care and the hidden disparity: a study of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. This research paper mainly discusses Birbhum District rural area’s health care infrastructure gap and hidden inequality. Dutta. R (2013) discuss the world of Quacks: a parallel health care system in rural West Bengal. The research paper mainly discusses the role of quacks doctor in rural West Bengal healthcare infrastructure. The quacks doctor has no proper training and knowledge about modern medicine or equipment but they play a vital role in rural health care. Singh. A.K. and Kuman.V.K (2016) research about the analysis of micro-level disparities in health care infrastructure in Allahabad district Utter Pradesh, India. This research paper mainly focuses on changing the position of 19 blocks of Allahabad district in a decade base on the availability of healthcare facilities. Debnath.M and Roy. S (2017) discuss spatial inequality analysis in healthcare infrastructure using G.I.S. techniques in North Bengal: a study in Cooch Bihar. The research of their paper mainly focuses on block-wise health infrastructure gap of Cooch Bihar district and their rank according to their position. Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1361 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 4. Limitation: This paper mainly based on Government published data and there is no use of primary data. All required secondary data have not available in Government Website and not up-to-date properly. This paper has modified according to the availability of secondary data. 5. Research Methodology and database: The research paper mainly based on secondary data and the main focal theme is health infrastructure disparities among the district of West Bengal. District statistical handbook, 2011 census report, Health on March 2015-16 published by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal and others Government data are the main source of the research paper. At first, collect various map and data have collected from different Govt. and as well as on Govt. website. Collect various health-related Journals to gather a general idea regarding healthcare of West Bengal. Data organize and calculated by M.S. Excel, using Arc GIS software to create a location map of the study area. The full paper organizes and ready by M.S. office-7 software. 6. Objectives: The objectives of the research paper are given below- 1. To highlight the present healthcare scenario of West Bengal. 2. To analysis the healthcare disparity of different districts in West Bengal. Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1362 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 7. Discussion: 7.1 Medical Institutions in West Bengal: As per the statistical report of Health on March 2015-2016, the total numbers of hospitals in West Bengal are 3521, maximum under the Department of Health & Family Welfare. North 24 Parganas (n=401) and Kolkata ( n=398) consists the highest number where Dakshin Dinajpur (n=36) and Alipurduar (n=24) consists the lowest number of hospitals in the state. 7.1.1 Hospital under the Department of Health & Family Welfare: 7.1.1.2 Medical College Hospital: Medical college hospital is such a medical institution, where medical education and medical services both are providing in affiliated by the government. In West Bengal, there are 13 medical college hospitals among the 23 districts. The number of medical college hospitals is not adequate compared to the number of districts. As the result, health care disparity has been emerging in the state. Kolkata district, the smallest and capital of the state comprises five (38 per cent) number of medical colleges in the state i.e. Calcutta Medical College, the first medical college of Asia, SSKM, R.G. Kar Hospital, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College. Rest eight medical colleges (62 per cent) have equally distributed in eight districts i.e. Bankura, Bardhaman, Darjiling, Malda, Murshidabad, Paschim Medinipur, North 24 PGS and Nadia. 7.1.1.3 District Hospitals: There is 22 number of district hospitals have been allotted in the state. Hence, Kolkata, Murshidabad and Malda have not allotted any district hospitals. Darjiling, South 24 PGS, Purba Medinipur, Birbhum and North 24 PGS each district respectively have two district hospitals. Alipurduar, Bardhaman, Dakshin Dinajpur, Hugli, Haora, Jalpaiguri, Koch Bihar, Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1363 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 Nadia, Uttar Dinajpur, Puruliya and Paschim Medinipur each district respectively have one district hospitals. 7.1.1.4 Sub- Divisional Hospital: Sub-divisional hospitals are not equally distributed among the districts of West Bengal. A total number of 37 Sub-divisional hospitals is located in West Bengal where Koch Bihar and Murshidabad equally have occupied the highest number (n=4) of Sub-divisional hospitals. Kolkata and Alipurduar have not any Sub-divisional hospital. 7.1.1.5 State General Hospital: A total number of state general hospitals is 29. North 24 PGS (n=7), Haora (n=6), Kolkata (n=5), South 24 PGS (n=4), Nadia (n=3). Alipurduar, Hugli, Purba Medinipur and Uttar Dinajpur each district equally have one state general hospital. 7.1.1.6 Others Hospital: A total number of other hospitals in West Bengal is 34. Kolkata consists of the highest number (n=15). Nadia (n=4), Darjiling (n=3), Koch Bihar and Paschim Medinipur equally (n=2) and Bankura, Birbhum, Hugli, Haora, Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad, North 24 PGS, Puruliya each district have one other hospital. 7.1.1.7 Rural Health Institution: Rural health infrastructure denotes three tier of health structure i.e. Sub Centre, Primary Health Centre (PHC) and the Community Health Centre (CHC). Rural health institute does not exist in Kolkata, But It is located among the other districts of the states. Volume 7, Issue IX, September/2018 Page No:1364 International Journal of Research ISSN NO: 2236-6124 7.1.1.7.1 Rural Hospital: A total number of a rural hospital in West Bengal is 273. The highest number of a rural hospital is located in Bardhaman (n=22) and lowest number of hospitals is located in Uttar Dinajpur (n=6).