SANGRUR: The scheme of starting Bachelor in Rural medicine and Surgery(BRMS) course is totally ill-conceived, impractical, discriminating step. Being started in the name of rural masses, it will produce substandard doctors who will provide only compromised care to the rural masses.
Dr. Amandeep Aggarwal,State Organizing Secretary, Indian Medical association, Punjab said, "How can there be two different standard for health care, one ‘State of Art’ (comparable to best in western countries) for urban population and second a substandard care for rural masses, jeopardizing the latter’s health & life? This is highly discriminating and against the fundament right of health of every citizens of the country".
Dr. Amandeep Aggarwal said, "we appreciate GOI concern for ‘Rural Masses’ and agree that there is shortage/ mal-distribution of medical & paramedical manpower in rural and remote areas and doctors are reluctant to go and serve in these area, it is pointed out that just providing the requisite numbers of doctors is not enough and this alone can’t work as shortcut solution to the real problem".
At CHC level short fall of specialist manpower, facilities and infrastructure is glaring. Obstetrician 56%, Surgeon 56%, Physicians 59% Pediatricians 67% with no provision for anesthetists. How will present scheme of things help in meeting this specialist services, over & above the shortage of para medical health workers, facilities as well as infrastructure.
According to Population Characteristics (2001 Census), Punjab had a population of 2.43 crores in 2001 and percentage of male and female is 53.3 % and 46.7 % respectively.Out of total 66.1 percent was rural population and 33.9 percent urban
Three tier rural health system is as: Against the population of 5000 there is one sub-centre, against 30000 there is one primary health centre, against 130000 there is one community health centre. Even as per government data, the shortage of para-medical staff is much more acute than that of doctors.
Currently there are 171,687 health centres in India and the number of dispensaries and hospitals is 33,855. There is a shortage of 20,855 sub centres, 4,833 primary health centres (PHCs), 2,525 community health centres (CHCs) as per the 2001 population norms.
Of the 22,370 PHCs in the country, only 1,263 of them were working 24x7 on March 31, 2005 (before the NRHM). The number of 24x7 PHCs today, as reported by the states, is 7,212.
BRMS course (3 ½ yrs)is going to produce half baked inferior quality doctors who will lack confidence & credibility to lead the team of other health worker like Nurses having diploma (3½ yrs.) / Bsc Nursing (4+1yrs.) or Pharmacist (4yrs. course).
This BRMS course is nothing except providing back door entry of substandard doctors to practice of medicine, said Dr. Amandeep Aggarwal.
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