Doctors' Association for Social Equality

From http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/09/13/stories/2007091354441003.htm

On rural service









The decision of the Union Health Ministry to introduce compulsory rural service for medical students needs to be coupled with legislation which ensures basic facilities for doctors who are posted in the villages. Most of the government health facilities are in a sorry state. They are left to fend for themselves when it comes to infrastructure and support staff. Most of the quarters available for the medical staff are in a dilapidated state. If the work atmosphere is good, there are excellent avenues for professional growth and research, and there is transparency in recruitment and transfers, many of our doctors will remain in government hospitals, rural or urban.

Jeevan Kuruvilla,

Vellore

* * *

The concept of compulsory rural service is no doubt noble. But the plight of doctors posted in villages is miserable. There is virtually no infrastructure and there is acute shortage of medicines, communication facilities, and ambulance services. Doctors can hardly discharge their duties. Students will simply while away their time to fulfil the mandatory requirement. It will turn out to be a national waste.

K.R.P. Gupta,

New York

* * *

If students are forced to serve in the rural areas, villagers will become guinea pigs. Doctors with some years of practice should be asked to serve in the villages. Their licences should be renewed only if they do so.

C.G. Senthilkumar,

Washington

* * *

A fresh graduate is himself a learner. Agreed, there is a dire need for doctors in villages but not inexperienced ones. Why should young doctors be made scapegoats to camouflage the government’s failure to upgrade the infrastructure in the PHCs? The cause would be better served if adequate diagnostic facilities, beds and paramedical staff are provided in village medical centres.

Shivam Sharma,

Aligarh

* * *

What will happen if defence personnel refuse postings in the border areas or hostile terrains citing various reasons? The students of medicine should look at the one-year rural posting as an opportunity to serve the poor who are desperately in need of good doctors. One year will pass, but the commitment to serve the poor will be strengthened.

V. Balachander,

Thanjavur

* * *

The medicos should understand that the opportunity to serve the rural people is a godsend to them. Earning the respect and love of poor villagers is more valuable than money.

G.N. Devaraj,

Bhavanisagar

* * *

I am of the view that compulsory rural service should be extended to all professionals. Engineers should be sent to villages to sort out water supply and sanitation issues and assist in the construction of roads and bridges. Veterinary surgeons can improve the condition and yield of livestock. Students of law can ensure that legal disputes are nipped in the bud. Teachers should be compulsorily attached to rural schools.
And all people’s representatives should be forced to spend at least one week every month in villages and obtain a certificate from the panchayat. These steps will ensure the overall improvement of rural areas and reduce the movement of villagers to cities.

Vinod Garg,

Hyderabad

Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu