BISHESWAR MISHRA /NEW DELHI
EXPRESSING concern over health scenario in rural India, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today pitched for making mandatory posting of fresh MBBS graduates in countryside before granting them their first promotion.
Inaugurating the 15th World Rural Health Conference here, Mr Naidu said, a possible solution to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas could be mandatory posting of fresh MBBS graduates in rural areas.
Quoting a report of International Labour Organisation, Mr Naidu said, there is a shortfall of seven million health workers in rural areas across the globe as compared to three million workers in urban areas.
Mr Naidu further said, the private sector, NGOs and doctors’ organizations can play a bigger and more participative role in supplementing the efforts of the governments in ending the urban-rural divide.
Later in the evening addressing a Convocation Ceremony of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research of RML Hospital in New Delhi, the Vice President said, private sector must join hands with the government to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare.
Mr Naidu said, affordability of healthcare is a major area of concern. He said, education and healthcare are the two pillars of nation building. He said, India has made rapid strides in various sectors, including the medical field.
Mr Naidu said, the government has recently announced National Health Protection Scheme under Ayushman Bharat to provide insurance cover to 10 crore poor families for treatment. He said, to overcome the shortage of doctors in the rural areas, posting of MBBS graduates in the rural areas should be made mandatory before before getting their first promotion.
On the occasion, Health Minister J P Nadda said, the government has planned for rapid expansion of medical education in the country. He said, it is a great challenge to produce high quality healthcare providers at all level. Ministers of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Anupriya Patel was also present on the occasion.