State govt's move aims to deliver healthcare to rural areas where MBBS doctors don't want to go
In a move to empower the state's rural and tribal belt, the Devendra Fadnavis government has decided to hire Ayurveda doctors to be posted at primary health centres across areas which suffer due to shortage of allopathy doctors. The placement process for BAMS doctors has been initiated across 22 districts of Maharashra including 14 in Marathwada and Vidarbha, which are known for large number of farmer suicides.
Maharashtra has nearly 1,811 primary health centres, each of which are entitled to have two doctros with MBBS or PG degrees. While there is no official statistics available about the vacant posts, insiders say over one third of the posts are lying vacant. Most centres are located in remote, hilly and forest areas. Lack of doctors is often cited as the prime reason for poor health conditions, severe malnutrition, and deaths of women and children in villages.
Dr Satish Pawar, Chief Directorate of Health Services confirmed the move. "Several PHC posts are lying vacant despite repeated advertisements. The decision will help us fill the vacancies and provide adequate health facilities to the needy."
The aspirants will have to appear for a walk-in-interview at the district collectors office to secure the job. The appointment will be for 11 months which can be extended until an MBBS doctor is appointed.
Medical experts say that Ayurveda doctors were allowed by the state to practice allopathy "to the extent they have learnt in the syllabus" somewhere in 1992.
The Indian Medical Association opposed the move and have decided to challenge the order in the court. Dr Jayesh Lele, associated with Indian Medical Association charges said, "This is a blatant violation of the norms. This only proves that the BJP wants to offer substandard healthcare to the rural population which is apalling. Who will be responsible if the village folks die because of wrong allopathic treatments given by these Ayurveda doctors? We will take legal recourse against this move. The current syllabus which is being taught at Podar Ayurvedic College in Mumbai now teaches Shuddha Ayurveda," Dr Lele adds.
Facts in numbers:
Maharashtra has nearly 1,811 primary health centres, each of which are entitled to have two doctros with MBBS or PG degrees
Insiders say over one third of the posts in these primary health centres are lying vacant.
The move aims to appoint Ayurveda doctors for the job. The appointment will be for 11 months which can be extended until an MBBS doctor is appointed
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