Sir,
This has reference to the news item ‘Majority of health institutions in J&K grappling with acute shortage of doctors’ DE Feb 11.
It is really a matter of concern that rural medical centres are facing an acute shortage of doctors and para medical staff.
The people this way are put to inconvenience and hardships. At times, the patients in these areas have to be shifted to urban centres for necessary medical aid which comes at a huge cost and which is beyond the reach of these poor people.
While these has been an increase in the number of doctors graduating, the overall doctor to patient ration across the State is quite low but it is very low in rural areas.
Though Government has launched schemes like National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)to meet the needs of people, much more has to be done in this regard. There is urgent need to post more doctors to overcome the crisis. It should be made mendatory for doctors to have a rural stint of atleast two years. It has been seen that only those doctors join rural postings who do not enjoy political patronage.
If doctors are posted in rural areas, it will check overcrowding in urban hospitals.
Yours etc….
Avinash Khajuria
Udhampur
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