India is the world’s most populous nation but the problem is a lack of doctors, a shortage that is reaching crucial levels. The shortage of specialist doctors and health workers in India is a major barrier to quality health services, especially in rural areas. But specialist doctors tend to go overseas or join the private sector in metropolitan and other large cities.
The doctor-patient ratio also remains lower than the WHO recommendations. This is disconcerting as it puts a severe strain on the public healthcare delivery, the impact of which can be particularly adverse in the villages where the shortage of medical infrastructure and healthcare staff is considerably acute.
The high infant and maternal mortality rates can be attributed to the paucity of medical carers in remote areas. The absence of doctors in the hinterland also puts pressure on hospitals in cities to which patients are usually sent. Initiatives like Ayushman Bharat cannot be successful with insufficient number of doctors. There should be an an adequate number of specialists to improve health services.
