Rural Healthcare Bed-Ridden Due To Lack Of Doctors
Latest government data reveals that medical services in the country’s villages are ailing and the condition of the country’s health system is deteriorating.
A recent report released by the Union Health Ministry shows that Community Health Centres in the country’s rural regions are dealing with a severe paucity of doctors. According to the latest figures of the Union Health Ministry, there are a total of 5,335 Rural Community Health Centres in the country, which are set up on ‘tehsil’ level.
A population of around 80,000-1,20,000 benefits from health services by means of each such Communal Health Centre. But due to the shortage of doctors, people have now begun hesitating from admitting patients in hospitals. According to Union Health Ministry data, in the year 2019, a total of 21,340 doctors were needed in Community Health Centres but only 3,881 doctors were working in these centres, which means that 17,459 posts of doctors are still vacant. Given this, it is not difficult to gauge how poor the ground reality will be in villages. A state-wise look shows that the condition is worst in Uttar Pradesh, where only 484 doctors are on duty in Community Health Centres and there is a shortage of 2,232 doctors. After UP comes West Bengal, where just 71 doctors are present and there is a paucity of 1,231 doctors. The current list shows just 455 doctors in Rajasthan and here too, 1,829 posts of doctors are lying vacant. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, only 179 doctors are serving in rural areas, which means that here too, 1,361 additional doctors are needed. The ‘Gujarat model’ is discussed often but here, only 118 doctors are present at Community Health Centres and there is a shortage of 1,448 doctors. In Madhya Pradesh, there are just 104 doctors in such centres, while 1,236 posts are vacant. In Odisha, only 236 doctors are working and here too, Community Health Centres are functioning with a paucity of 1,272 doctors. In Maharashtra, there are only 485 doctors, which means a shortfall of 971 doctors and there are just 35 doctors in Kerala, making up a paucity of 873 doctors. Karnataka is in a slightly better position with 465 doctors present and a shortfall of 327 doctors. Since around 95% Community Health Centres are in rural areas, it is difficult to say who these centres benefit and how much, in the absence of doctors.
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A population of around 80,000-1,20,000 benefits from health services by means of each such Communal Health Centre. But due to the shortage of doctors, people have now begun hesitating from admitting patients in hospitals. According to Union Health Ministry data, in the year 2019, a total of 21,340 doctors were needed in Community Health Centres but only 3,881 doctors were working in these centres, which means that 17,459 posts of doctors are still vacant. Given this, it is not difficult to gauge how poor the ground reality will be in villages. A state-wise look shows that the condition is worst in Uttar Pradesh, where only 484 doctors are on duty in Community Health Centres and there is a shortage of 2,232 doctors. After UP comes West Bengal, where just 71 doctors are present and there is a paucity of 1,231 doctors. The current list shows just 455 doctors in Rajasthan and here too, 1,829 posts of doctors are lying vacant. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, only 179 doctors are serving in rural areas, which means that here too, 1,361 additional doctors are needed. The ‘Gujarat model’ is discussed often but here, only 118 doctors are present at Community Health Centres and there is a shortage of 1,448 doctors. In Madhya Pradesh, there are just 104 doctors in such centres, while 1,236 posts are vacant. In Odisha, only 236 doctors are working and here too, Community Health Centres are functioning with a paucity of 1,272 doctors. In Maharashtra, there are only 485 doctors, which means a shortfall of 971 doctors and there are just 35 doctors in Kerala, making up a paucity of 873 doctors. Karnataka is in a slightly better position with 465 doctors present and a shortfall of 327 doctors. Since around 95% Community Health Centres are in rural areas, it is difficult to say who these centres benefit and how much, in the absence of doctors.
The shortage of #doctors in #ruralareas is crippling India's rural #healthcare. In 2019, 21,340 doctors were required in community health centers across the country but only 3,881 doctors were employed in these centers
— GoNewsIndia (@GoNews_India) February 21, 2020
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