As of March 31, 2015, more than 8% of 25 300 primary health centres in the country were without a doctor, 38% were without a laboratory technician, and 22% had no pharmacist. Nearly 50% of posts for female health assistants and 61% for male health assistants remain vacant. In community health centres, the shortfall is huge— surgeons (83%), obstetricians and gynaecologists (76%), physicians (83%), and paediatricians (82%).
Even in health facilities where doctors, specialists, and paramedic staff have been posted, their availability remains in question because of high rates of absenteeism. A stark difference exists in the healthcare facilities available to the rural and urban population in India. (1) The country is currently facing a severe shortage of all categories of staff in the rural health system (2) While the comment made by Mahatma Gandhi that India lives in its villages…
