The 2017 rural health statistics report shows that there is a crippling shortage of specialists in the health care system. Of the total 22,496 sanctioned posts of surgeons, pediatricians, physicians and obstetricians/gynecologists, 18,347 were vacant. Of 5,624 pediatrician posts, 4,554 were vacant. There were 4,760 vacancies for physician posts, 4,170 unfilled posts for obstetricians/gynecologists and 4,866 for surgeons. For each kind of specialist, the total number of sanctioned posts in the country is the same. Many CHCs have never seen a specialist being posted there ever since the National Rural Health Mission was launched.
The Health Ministry explains that “these salaries were approved under the National Health Mission (NHM) because that was the only option we had to get specialists in rural areas. Without specialists, it is not possible for NHM to function at capacity. It is understandable that when these doctors get paid much more in the private sector, we will not get good people unless we give competitive salaries. That is why some states even asked doctors to quote their own salaries”. Interestingly, despite the salaries, lack of facilities, lack of good schools and uncertainty about the quality of life make doctors reluctant to go to these postings. Sant Lal Verma, civil surgeon, from Mewat, stated that “We were trying to hire a couple, one of them a gynecologist and the other a pediatrician. We thought hiring the two together would make the decision easier for them. We were paying the gynecologist Rs 2.5 lakh and the pediatrician Rs 2- 2.5 lakh. Earlier, these people were paid anything between Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh.” Source: The Indian Express
Simply posting a specialist doctor does not solve this problem. First develop the infrastructure, ensure safety of the medical personnel, develop referral chain and only then this measure will be effective. Otherwise this doctor will be made a scapegoat and become a victim of both administrative and public wrath. To me it appears a shortcut , temporary remedy without going into the root of the problem.
infra structure should be developed in each and every government hospital,good living conditions should be provided to working doctors,good protection should be given,good education facilities are needed for the childeren of working doctors at least with in 10 t0 15km range,regular payment of salaries, government vehicle to move to near by places if good living facilities are not present at the working site,mult ispeciality team should be available when ever needed in near by places,no bond system,8 hours duty,holidays as per medical colleges or city government general hospitals,no political persons involvement in working area hospital ,if these are avilable many young doctors will join.
The Health Ministry explains that “these salaries were approved under the National Health Mission (NHM) because that was the only option we had to get specialists in rural areas. Without specialists, it is not possible for NHM to function at capacity. It is understandable that when these doctors get paid much more in the private sector, we will not get good people unless we give competitive salaries. That is why some states even asked doctors to quote their own salaries”. Interestingly, despite the salaries, lack of facilities, lack of good schools and uncertainty about the quality of life make doctors reluctant to go to these postings. Sant Lal Verma, civil surgeon, from Mewat, stated that “We were trying to hire a couple, one of them a gynecologist and the other a pediatrician. We thought hiring the two together would make the decision easier for them. We were paying the gynecologist Rs 2.5 lakh and the pediatrician Rs 2- 2.5 lakh. Earlier, these people were paid anything between Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh.” Source: The Indian Express
Simply posting a specialist doctor does not solve this problem. First develop the infrastructure, ensure safety of the medical personnel, develop referral chain and only then this measure will be effective. Otherwise this doctor will be made a scapegoat and become a victim of both administrative and public wrath. To me it appears a shortcut , temporary remedy without going into the root of the problem.
infra structure should be developed in each and every government hospital,good living conditions should be provided to working doctors,good protection should be given,good education facilities are needed for the childeren of working doctors at least with in 10 t0 15km range,regular payment of salaries, government vehicle to move to near by places if good living facilities are not present at the working site,mult ispeciality team should be available when ever needed in near by places,no bond system,8 hours duty,holidays as per medical colleges or city government general hospitals,no political persons involvement in working area hospital ,if these are avilable many young doctors will join.
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