Experts Urge Subsidised Rehab Units in Govt Hospitals

Hyderabad: The government must subsidise rehabilitation centres or introduce at least 20‑bed rehabilitation units in government hospitals as post‑surgery and post‑trauma recovery is becoming increasingly expensive for families, experts said at a conference on enabling faster recovery and reducing avoidable disability here on Sunday.

Dr U. Singh, former head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said India’s healthcare system had improved significantly in trauma care and life‑saving interventions, but rehabilitation services remain inadequate in many states.

“Saving lives alone is not enough. Patients need to regain functionality and return to daily life. Rehabilitation is not just physiotherapy. It requires a multidisciplinary approach involving PMR specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists and psychologists,” he said.

He noted that states such as West Bengal and Kerala had developed better rehabilitation models through government medical colleges and dedicated PMR departments, while Tamil Nadu was expanding facilities through government institutions and teaching hospitals.

Dr Singh pointed out: “People think rehabilitation means only physiotherapy. Recovery after stroke, spinal injury, fractures or brain trauma requires long‑term structured care.”

He welcomed the Telangana government’s move to establish trauma centres across districts, saying early intervention during the golden hour could reduce deaths and complications. However, he stressed that rehabilitation should begin early alongside acute treatment.

Speaking on the financial burden, Dr. Singh said: “Corporate hospitals often cannot keep patients for long durations due to bed occupancy pressures. That is why the government must subsidise rehabilitation services.”

He cited the example of Employees’ State Insurance Hospital in Hyderabad starting rehabilitation services and said more government institutions should follow.

Dr Gaurav Thukral, president of HCAH, said India was moving towards acute care but lagging in recovery‑focused healthcare. “Rehabilitation centres today use robotics, virtual reality, neuromuscular stimulation devices and multidisciplinary therapy teams to speed up recovery.”

“Patients who remain bedridden at home for months can often recover within 30 to 45 days in structured rehabilitation centres,” he added.

Rajagopal G., chairman of Association of Senior Living India and CEO of Lifebridge Group, said the association is discussing with governments the need to improve rehabilitation facilities for families unable to afford private centres.

Experts at the conference highlighted that the early recovery window following stroke, trauma, neurological injury or prolonged ICU care is often the most critical period for restoring function and preventing long‑term disability. However, structured rehabilitation pathways remain inaccessible for a large section of patients across India.

Globally, nearly 2.4 billion people live with conditions that could benefit from rehabilitation, while India alone records over 1.25 million new stroke cases annually, contributing nearly 10 per cent of the global stroke burden.