Rural Connectivity and Health Care in India

Article from Udayavani

Mangalore, December 11: Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam was at his characteristic best in dealing with seemingly straight forward issues such as compulsory rural posting of medical professionals to issues such as the nuclear deal with the U S The manner in which he broke these issues into small achievable targets came in for praise from everyone on Sunday.

The occasion was the inauguration of Father Muller Oncology Centre at Father Muller Charitable Institutions. Interacting with students, Dr Kalam, who administered a five-point oath to medical professionals, advised them to concentrate on rural poor. “We will always give a part of our time for treating patients who cannot afford it. We will treat at least 20 patients in a year at minimal cost in rural areas,” he said.

Stressing on the development of quality indigenous equipment and consumables and making use of them in all their operations, Dr Kalam advised the professionals to assure people on reliability of the product. “We will follow the motto, let my brain remove the pain of people, suffering of humanity and bring smile on their faces,” he said. To a question on doctors being asked to undertake service in rural areas.

Dr Kalam said: “The answer lies in providing urban amenities in rural areas, a concept which the Government was committed to implement in the 11th Five Year Plan. Provide rural connectivity with better transport facilities.

Follow it up with electronic connectivity through tele-medicine, tele-education and e-governance,” he said.

“Knowledge connectivity, in the form of empowering local community such as fishermen, to deal with local issues including extending the shelf life of marine products, empowering them to build better boats that would ensure economic connectivity. This is the time when doctors will start going there,” he said.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes, who released a cover brought out by India Posts said the UPA Government was committed to providing health care to every Indian.

“We intend to cover the people in the unorganised sector, who constitute 90 per cent of our labour force, through an insurance scheme,” he said and added that the Government would improve infrastructure in rural areas.

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