Health services have gradually turned into a major concern for the State. Growing population, better awareness of health problems, urge to live a healthy life and availability of health care through private enterprise all have rapidly increased demand of adequate medical facilities in rural areas which is unprecedented in the medical history of the State. Popular Government needs to respond to overwhelming demands of the public, and providing health facilities is perhaps the most sought demand these days. No doubt, the subject being on the priority list of the Government, much is being done to meet the huge demand on medical services. But it is a complicated and comprehensive service and cannot be treated lightly.
The most tedious part of the services is availability of professionals, trained and experienced doctors, surgeons, nursing cadres and medical attendants. As we know these are all professional cadres and there are set rules and regulations for their recruitment in the health services.
Recently, the Government announced that in order to meet the growing demand, three district hospitals in Jammu region, namely Kathua, Rajouri and Doda will be upgraded and raised into Medical Colleges. The Government intends to start admission in these nascent colleges from this session. On the face of it, this is a bold and very people-friendly decision and it has many merits. It will open opportunities for local talent who otherwise find it difficult to compete in larger spectrum. Secondly, the doctors coming out of these Medical College will be willing to serve in rural areas where normally others are reluctant to go. Thirdly, it will cater to larger sections of rural population and save them the hassles of finding better medical treatment at Jammu Medical College. Our rural areas will find exposure and will get connoted to the larger medical grid on national level. People in these districts will welcome the decision with applause.
However, there is another aspect to this phenomenon which needs urgent attention. According to reports available at least 50 per cent positions of doctors/surgeons are laying vacant in the three contemplated district hospitals at present. Beside this, all of them are grossly short of requisite infrastructure. The question is that in the light of this glaring shortage of faculties and infrastructure, can it be possible to expect that the proposed Medical Colleges will be able to deliver the goods. It is one thing for a populist Government to make exciting announcements to win public favour, something that is costing dearly to our democratic dispensation, and another thing to deliver the goods on the ground. We would very much like that the district hospitals become Medical Colleges, but we are apprehensive that the scheme may take years at end and even may not materialise at the end of the day. That is what has happened with many other schemes. These hospitals are already over-crowded with patients who do not receive adequate medical attention owing to shortage of doctors and Para medical staff. With the opening of Medical College there will be large influx of patients and the situation can become worse.
All possible remedial propositions to resolve the issue should be considered. It would also be highly desirable that retired medical professional are called back on contract basis, of course with attractive emoluments, and re-employed for a period of 3-5 years depending on the field of expertise. We have a large brigade of retired medical professionals and they could be deployed till our district hospitals are able to produce doctors for regular service.
The bottom line is that the number of people seeking medical assistance will increase at a rapid pace in years to come. We must, therefore, prepare from today for a situation that will show up in next decade or half. We need wise and practicable planning. We appreciate the ideas of the Government in expanding health services but we also caution it not to take recourse to cheap popularity without giving due regard to the infrastructural aspect of the scheme.
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