Desperate to find doctors and specialists to balance the rapidly declining doctor patient ratio in Maharashtra, the health department has taken drastic steps
Desperate to find doctors and specialists to balance the rapidly declining doctor patient ratio in Maharashtra, the health department has taken drastic steps like luring foreign colleges to create specialists in the shortest possible time. Regular MBBS doctors are being trained to deliver the services of specialities like paediatricians, gynaecologists and anaesthetists.
Dr Prakash Doke, director general of medical services, Maharashtra, confirmed that Sydney University had already sent a proposal to start a certificate course in child health. “MBBS doctors qualifying in such courses will be treated equivalent to paediatricians,” he said. “The proposal has already been sent to the state health ministry,” he added.
He also hinted that medical services in the state were on the brink of collapse due to shortage of doctors. “We cannot deny that deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, accidents and suicides have gone up marginally due to lack of experts at the right place and the right time,” he said.
According to figures by the health department, there is a 70% shortage of radiologists, 65% of anaesthetists, 50% paediatricians, 35% gynaecologists and about 30% physicians.
“We are also getting trainers from foreign universities to impart theoretical knowledge of working in rural conditions,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director of medical education and research. “These teams have already trained doctors working in Africa and South America.”
On the other hand, even as most departments of the biggest medical college in the state, Grant Medical College, are dragging on for want of professors, the state is contemplating having a second medical college for Mumbai. On Saturday, union petroleum Murli Deora even promised Rs20 crore for the new college if the proposal saw the light of day.
Speaking to DNA, Bhushan Gagrani, secretary, medical education, said that the state cannot stop having medical colleges for want of teachers. But, at the same time, he agreed that the crisis was indeed worrisome. “We are looking at various options, and the proposal for the medical college is yet to be finalised,” he said.
According to sources in the health department, minor operation theatres in rural areas are shut for want of doctors and medicines. Out of 35 operation tables in the state-run JJ Hospital, only few are functional that too on selected days of the week.
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