South Asia - Hospital beds (per 1,000 people)

Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in South Asia was 0.588 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 57 years was 0.865 in 2003, while its lowest value was 0.432 in 2005.

Definition: Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.

Source: Data are from the World Health Organization, supplemented by country data.

See also:

Year Value
1960 0.506
1970 0.585
1975 0.627
1980 0.729
1981 0.732
1985 0.709
1987 0.702
1991 0.719
2000 0.681
2001 0.631
2002 0.631
2003 0.865
2005 0.432
2006 0.605
2007 0.482
2008 0.433
2009 0.460
2010 0.527
2011 0.621
2012 0.543
2013 0.505
2014 0.536
2015 0.598
2016 0.527
2017 0.588

Limitations and Exceptions: Depending on the source and means of monitoring, data may not be exactly comparable across countries. For more information, see the original source.

Original Source Notes: Depending on the source and means of monitoring, data may not be exactly comparable across countries. See listed source for country-specific details.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Availability and use of health services, such as hospital beds per 1,000 people, reflect both demand- and supply-side factors. In the absence of a consistent definition this is a crude indicator of the extent of physical, financial, and other barriers to health care.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Health Indicators

Sub-Topic: Health systems