NASHIK, NOV 15: A study conducted by an NGO, Bharat Vaidyaka Sanstha, in five tehsils of Nashik district recently has discovered that 84 per cent of villages are without any resident doctor. Dr Shyam Astekar and Dr Dhruv Mankad, who conducted the study in the Dindori, Peth, Surgana, Chandwad and Niphad tehsils of Nashik, found that out of the 555 doctors available, 104 were DHMS degree holders, 141 were BAMS, 91 MBBS, 12 MDs, 34 BHMS, 56 BEMS, 12 LCEH, 12 AVV and 63 had various degrees ranging from RMP to BDS to GRMP. The survey found that 30 doctors did not have any medical degree.In the tribal blocks 56 stalls of roaming (mobile) doctors were found during weekly bazaars. There were 20 such stalls in bazaars in Peth, 19 in Surgana and 17 in Dindori. On an average, there were at least three stalls of roaming doctors in weekly bazaars.Such doctors administered intravenous fluids, injections and dispensed from their bags to ailing villagers visiting the bazaars. These doctors were either homeopaths, electropaths or quacks administering allopathic medicines.Male doctors far outnumbered female doctors in both government and private sectors in all categories. Out of the 555 doctors in the five tehsils, 491 were males while only 64 were females. Among private doctors, women comprised just 11 per cent and most of them were wives of doctors. The survey found that the dearth of doctors in rural areas had provided a fertile ground for private doctors, most of whom were not qualified for allopathic practice.The doctors who conducted the survey have advocated a comprehensive plan of reforms. Among the measures suggested to improve the situation are licensing of doctors by panchayat and municipal bodies, open short courses for doctors, village level healthcare providers, increase the number of paramedics to make one available in each village, develop protocols for general practitioners, declare list of medicines that can be allowed for use, activating government rural hospitals as new hub of medical services.The findings of the study is significant as several health ministers of Maharashtra in the past (like Dr Baliram Hirey, Pushpatai Hirey and Dr Daulatrao Aher) hailed from Nashik district. Further, the study has been conducted during the current year against the backdrop of the government slogan of "Health for all by 2000".
