Tackling Doctor Crunch In Public Health

Despite several efforts, India still struggles with a severe shortage of doctors, especially in the rural areas. An analysis of the current situation and ways to solve the issue.

- Raelene Kambli

In 2013, Andrea D’souza a 35-year-old woman living in Mumbai was pregnant with her second child and required a domestic help to look after the household chores. She approached a well-known agency located in her vicinity and hired Malati (a 20-year-old girl from a tribal village in Pakur district of Jharkhand), who had just come to Mumbai in search of a job.

In a matter of few days, Malati adjusted to city life and Andrea's family. She managed the household job efficiently; however, often complained of an acute stomach ache and frequent indigestion. Initially, Andrea sought help from her family doctor. But when Malati’s condition worsened, she got her admitted at Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, where a slew of medical examinations brought to light that Malati was suffering from stage 1 stomach cancer. Thereafter, Malati underwent a surgery and currently leads a normal life. She still continues to work with Andrea and does not wish to go back home.

When Malati narrated her story to Express Healthcare, she pointed out that her village has a primary health centre where she often visited with her mother, but most of the time the centre remained nonfunctional due to lack of doctors and other medical staff. It takes almost one to two hours to get to the district hospital in Pakur and thereto, the situation remains the same. She informed that doctors don't stay in the village for more than two months and often at intervals there are no doctors or nurses at all. In fact, one reason why her parents decided to send her to Mumbai was that she could work and save money to treat her stomach ache.