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Functions of District hospital

The term District Hospital is used here to mean a hospital at the secondary referral level responsible for a district of a defined geographical area containing a
defined population.

A district hospital has the following functions:
It provides effective, affordable health care services (curative including specialist services, preventive and promotive) for a defined population, with their full participation and inco-operation with agencies in the district that have similar concern. It covers both urban population (district head quarter town) and the
rural population in the district.

Function as a secondary level referral centre for the public health institutions below the district level such as Sub-divisional Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Sub-centres.

To provide wide ranging technical and administrative support and education and training for primary health care.

Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS): Guidelines for District Hospitals (2012)

[Manish Jain]

Services requirement of District hospital 
Services that a District Hospital is expected to provide can be grouped as Essential (Minimum Assured Services) and Desirable (which we should aspire to achieve). The services include OPD, indoor and Emergency Services

Essential
General Specialties
General Medicine
General Surgery
Obstetric & Gynaecology Services
Family Planing services like Counseling, Tubectomy (Both
Laparoscopic and Minilap), NSV, IUCD, OCPs, Condoms,
ECPs, Follow up services
Paediatrics including Neonatology and Immunization
Emergency (Accident & other emergency)
Critical care/Intensive Care (ICU)
Anaesthesia
Ophthalmology
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) Orthopaedics Radiology including Imaging Psychiatry Geriatric Services (10 bedded ward) Health promotion and Counseling Services Dental care District Public Health Unit
DOT centre AYUSH Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre; STI Clinic; ART Centre Blood Bank Disability Certification Services1 Services under Other 
National Health Programmes 

Diagnostic and other Para clinical services regarding : 
Laboratory services including Pathology and Microbiology 
Designated Microscopy centre 
X-Ray, Sonography 
ECG Endoscopy 
Blood Bank and Transfusion Services 
Physiotherapy Dental Technology (Dental Hygiene) 
Drugs and Pharmacy 


Ancillary and support services Following ancillary services shall be ensured: 
Medico-legal/post mortem Ambulance services
Dietary services Laundry services 
Security services 
Waste management including Biomedical Waste Ware housing/central store Maintenance and repair 
Electric Supply (power generation and stabilization) 
Water supply (plumbing) 
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning 
Transport Communication 
Medical Social Work Nursing Services 
CSSD - Sterilization and Disinfection
Horticulture (Landscaping) 
Refrigeration Hospital Infection Control 
Referral Services

Administrative services :

(i) Finance
(ii) Medical records (Provision should be made for
computerized medical records with anti-virus facilities
whereas alternate records should also be maintained)
(iii) Procurement
(iv) Personnel
(v) Housekeeping and Sanitation
(vi) Education and training
(vii) Inventory Management
(viii) Hospital Information System
(ix) Grievances redressal Services

Services under various National Health and Family Welfare

Programmes.


Epidemic Control and Disaster Preparedness
Integrated Disease surveillance, epidemic investigation and
emergency response


Desirable : 
General Specialties 
Dermatology and Venerology (Skin & VD) 
Radiotherapy Allergy 
De-addiction centre 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services 
Tobacco Cessation Services 
Dialysis Services
Post Partum Unit with following services in an integrated manner
Post Natal Services
All Family Planning services i.e Counseling, Tubectomy
(Both Laparoscopic and Minilap), NSV, IUCD, OCPs,
Condoms, ECPs, Follow up services
Safe Abortion Services
Immunization
Super Specialties
(May be provided depending upon the availability of
manpower in State/UT)
Cardiology
Cardio-thoracic and Vascular Surgery
Gastro-enterology
Surgical Gastro-enterology
Plastic Surgery
Electrophysiology
Nephrology
Urology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Oncology
Endocrinology/Metabolism
Medical oncology
Surgical oncology
Radiation oncology
Nuclear medicine Specialist
Diagnostic and other Para clinical services regarding
Blood Bank with all allied facilities
CT Scan
MRI
EEG
NCV
EMG
VEP (visual evoked potential)
Muscle Biopsy
Angiography
Echocardiography
Occupational therapy
Ancillary and support services : 
Counseling services for domestic violence, gender violence, adolescents, etc. Gender and socially sensitive service delivery be assured. Telemedicine : 
24 × 7 ambulance with advance life support systems Lift and vertical transport