Date: April 24, 2008

New Delhi

URL:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/04/24/stories/2008042452762300.htm

The lack of infrastructure, both physical and human resources, including adequate medical, paramedical and nurses across rural India and the reluctance of medical practitioners to take up rural service because of the unglamorous situation on the ground, sparked off a spirited debate in the Lok Sabha today with several members voicing concerns.

During the question hour in response to a query by the Congress member, Mr A. Sai Prathap, that people are not getting proper treatment in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and in Government hospitals due to insufficient infrastructure, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, said against only 3,500 specialist doctors, when the UPA government assumed office, there are today 5,100 doctors in position, though the requirement is 16,000.

He, however, conceded that the country is faced with acute paucity of specialist doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in rural areas.
Steps being taken

“We are taking various steps including incentives to doctors to go to rural areas,’ he said, adding that it backed the Kerala Government´s affidavit in the court for compulsory course of rural service for medical students but it was struck down and “we would revise the proposal’ to pursue this matter.

He said the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched on April 12, 2005, has shifted the focus from narrow schemes to a functional health system at all levels which also provides flexibility for decentralised planning to States. Dr Ramadoss mentioned that out of this year´s annual Plan of Rs 16,000 crore of his Ministry, as much as Rs 12,000 crore would be for NRHM implementation.

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