Medical expert shortage leaves hospitals in rural Gujarat empty
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Government’s bombastic advertisements on the health situation in Gujarat are a far cry from what the reality is. There is a dire requirement of medical experts in rural Gujarat including surgeons, and obstetricians, gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians.
According to Rural Health Statistics data for Gujarat, in 2005, there was a demand of 1,088 surgeons, Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB & GY) specialists, physicians and paediatricians, but only 92 positions were filled. In 2022, the demand increased to 1376, yet only 127 positions were filled, resulting in a shortfall of 1249.
As a consequence of which, Bhanu Babariya, the minister for women and child development, revealed in the Gujarat legislative assembly that of the 5.70 lakh malnourished children, around 4.38 lakh are underweight, and 1.31 lakh are categorised as “severely underweight”.
Between 2005 and 2022, the percentage of sub-centres operating in government buildings increased from 43.8% to 69.1%.
In 2005, the number of operational sub-centres, Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and Community Health Centers (CHCs) in rural areas of Gujarat were 7,274 sub-centres, 1070 PHCs, and 272 CHCs. This count rose to 9132 sub-centres, 1474 PHCs, and 344 CHCs in 2022.
In 2005, there were 222 vacant positions at primary health centres in rural areas, which decreased to 185 by 2022.
The government in the state assembly answered that more than 600 crores have been fined as bonds made by doctors who did not serve in rural areas. Doctors who passed out of state-run medical colleges did not serve in rural areas. As per the bond they have to sign at the time of admission, the Gujarat government informed the legislative Assembly.
Government doctors in tribal areas like Dahod and Narmada districts are not joining CHCs and PHCs.
In fact, the state government has found an alternative to fill the requirement by appointing doctors on contract to serve rural health centres like PHCs and CHCs.
The success of health schemes and national schemes in the state is due to accurate appointment of the para medical staff which become temporary substitutes of healthcare professionals in rural Gujarat.