Unlike private hospitals where costs can be prohibitive, Indian government hospitals offer free or highly subsidized treatment across a wide spectrum of medical services—ranging from outpatient consultations and diagnostics to complex surgeries and super-specialty care. For families who still face financial gaps due to medicines, implants, or extended hospitalization, medical crowdfunding platforms and support networks help bridge the difference and ensure that treatment is not delayed.
As healthcare needs grow in 2025 and beyond, it becomes increasingly important to understand how government hospitals function, their structure, levels of care, major institutions, and health schemes that support them. This guide by Aarogyaa Bharat covers everything you need to know about government hospitals in India, including their organization, leading institutions, public health schemes, and patient advantages.
Structure of the Indian Government Hospital System
India’s public healthcare infrastructure follows a three-tier model, operated through Central, State, and Local Government bodies. This layered structure ensures healthcare delivery from the village level up to national super-specialty institutions.
The system operates across:
-
Primary Healthcare
-
Secondary Healthcare
-
Tertiary & Super-Specialty Healthcare
This pyramid structure allows patients to enter at the grassroots level and get referred upward when advanced treatment is required.
A. Types of Government Hospitals in India
1. Central Government Hospitals
These hospitals are funded and managed by the Government of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They represent the highest level of infrastructure, research, education, and specialty treatment in the country. These institutions also serve as national referral centers.
Examples:
-
AIIMS (New Delhi & Branches)
-
Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi
-
PGIMER, Chandigarh
-
RML Hospital, Delhi
These hospitals offer highly specialized treatments at extremely low costs compared to private institutions.
2. State Government Hospitals
State health departments operate these hospitals, forming the backbone of India’s public healthcare delivery. They include:
-
District Hospitals
-
Sub-Divisional Hospitals
-
State Medical College Hospitals
Examples:
-
Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai
-
KEM Hospital, Maharashtra
-
District General Hospitals across all states
They handle most inpatient treatments, emergency services, and specialist consultations.
3. Municipal & Local Body Hospitals
These hospitals are run by municipal corporations and urban local bodies, primarily catering to dense urban populations.
Examples:
-
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion), Mumbai
-
Municipal Corporation Hospitals across metros
They deliver essential services like emergency care, maternity services, trauma support, and outpatient treatment at low cost.
B. Levels of Care in Government Hospitals
1. Primary Healthcare
This is the first point of medical contact. It focuses on preventive, promotive, and basic curative care.
Services Include:
-
Immunizations
-
Maternal & child health
-
Family planning
-
Treatment of common diseases
-
Health education
2. Secondary Healthcare
Secondary care is delivered at district and sub-divisional hospitals and acts as a referral level from primary care centers.
Services Include:
-
Inpatient care
-
Specialist consultations
-
Minor surgeries
-
Emergency & trauma services
3. Tertiary & Super-Specialty Healthcare
This is the highest level of medical care, provided by large government medical colleges and national institutes.
Services Include:
-
Organ transplants
-
Cancer treatment
-
Neurological and cardiac surgeries
-
Advanced diagnostics
-
Medical research & teaching
C. Government Medical Colleges & Teaching Hospitals
Government medical colleges play a unique dual role:
-
Training doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals
-
Delivering advanced patient care
These teaching hospitals are critical for India’s long-term healthcare capacity building.
Major Teaching Hospitals:
-
AIIMS (Multiple Locations)
-
Madras Medical College
-
KEM Hospital, Mumbai
-
Government Medical College, Kozhikode
D. Public Healthcare Schemes Supporting Government Hospitals
Government hospitals are financially supported by several national and state health insurance schemes that provide free or cashless treatment to eligible citizens.
1. Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY
-
Covers ₹5 lakh per family per year
-
Cashless treatment for secondary & tertiary care
-
World’s largest health assurance scheme
-
Covers over 50 crore Indians
2. Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
-
For central government employees & pensioners
-
Access to government dispensaries, wellness centers & referral hospitals
-
Active in major metro cities
3. Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme
-
For organized sector workers
-
Funded by employer & employee contributions
-
Covers full medical care including hospitalization
4. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
-
Provides financial support for catastrophic diseases
-
Includes cancer, heart disease, kidney & liver transplants
-
For BPL families at super-specialty hospitals
5. State-Specific Health Schemes
-
Aarogyasri (Telangana & Andhra Pradesh)
-
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (Maharashtra)
-
Karunya Health Scheme (Kerala)
-
Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (Odisha)
These schemes significantly reduce treatment costs and strengthen public healthcare infrastructure.
Top Government Hospitals in India – 2025
1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
-
Established: 1956
-
Beds: ~2,500
-
Specialties: Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Surgery
-
Location: Ansari Nagar, New Delhi
AIIMS Delhi is India’s most prestigious public medical institution. It combines patient care, medical research, and advanced education, serving millions annually with world-class but highly affordable treatment.
2. PGIMER, Chandigarh
-
Established: 1962
-
Beds: ~2,000
-
Specialties: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Neurology
-
Location: Sector 12, Chandigarh
PGIMER is one of the country’s leading tertiary-care government hospitals and a major referral center for North India.
3. JIPMER, Puducherry
-
Established: 1964
-
Beds: ~2,000
-
Specialties: Oncology, Surgery, Neurology, Nephrology
-
Location: Puducherry
JIPMER is among South India’s most trusted government medical institutions, offering advanced treatment at highly subsidized costs.
4. SGPGIMS, Lucknow
-
Established: 1983
-
Beds: ~1,000
-
Specialties: Cardiology, Neurology, Endocrinology, Nephrology
-
Location: Raebareli Road, Lucknow
SGPGIMS is a premier postgraduate institute specializing in high-complexity medical care and research.
5. KEM Hospital, Mumbai
-
Established: 1926
-
Beds: ~1,800
-
Specialties: Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Neurology
-
Location: Parel, Mumbai
KEM Hospital is one of Western India’s most respected government hospitals with massive patient outreach and teaching excellence.
6. Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
-
Established: 1941
-
Beds: ~700
-
Specialization: Comprehensive Cancer Care
-
Location: Parel, Mumbai
Tata Memorial Hospital is India’s leading government-run cancer hospital providing affordable oncology treatment nationwide.
FAQs – Government Hospitals in India
1. How many government hospitals are there in India?
India has over 23,500 government hospitals, including PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, and tertiary institutions.
2. Are government hospitals free in India?
Most services are free or highly subsidized. Schemes like PM-JAY offer cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh.
3. What are the main advantages of government hospitals?
Affordable care, nationwide coverage, specialist availability, and access to national health schemes.
4. Which state has the best government hospitals?
Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are known for top-tier public hospitals.
5. Do government hospitals offer super-specialty services?
Yes. Organ transplants, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, and cardiac surgeries are routinely performed.
How Aarogyaa Bharat Helps You
Aarogyaa Bharat helps patients:
-
Find verified government hospitals near them
-
Understand scheme eligibility
-
Compare hospitals by specialty
-
Get guidance on treatment costs & medical equipment support
-
Access home-care, equipment rental, and healthcare products post-discharge
