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shortage of doctors

For Muzaffarpur, a boon from the Centre after child death tragedy

After facing criticism for dismal health infrastructure in the state of Bihar the central government has informed the Supreme Court that it intends to fund a paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) in Muzaffarpur, the district at the centre of the state’s child death tragedy. More than 150 children have died in the state following an …

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CM Banerjee calls attention to doctor shortage in West Bengal

The shortage of doctors in West Bengal has been highlighted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a meeting with medicos in the wake of strike action which plagued the state weeks ago. The strikes began following an attack on an intern in Kolkata. Initially a state-level stir, the agitation swiftly became a national movement with …

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India’s shortage of specialist doctors is still staggering

July 1st marked Doctors’ Day – and while the occasion was an opportunity to thank the medical professionals who work to ensure good health, it also was a bitter reminder of the public health crisis India is facing. The government has put a figure to the mammoth medical staff shortage India is battling.  The new …

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Supreme Court intervenes in Bihar child deaths

The deaths of more than 100 children due to an outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar has come under the scanner of the Supreme Court. The tragedy has sparked national outrage and arrested international headlines. As the death toll passed 150 over the weekend, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Muzaffarpur district (where most …

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Public health infrastructure in Bihar is in the ICU

The recent tragic deaths of over a hundred children in Bihar has put the spotlight on the ailing public health infrastructure – both in the state and in the country. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Centre and state governments over what it has termed “deplorable public health infrastructure” and reminded …

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Raising the retirement age of doctors

Punjab has announced it may raise the age at which government doctors may retire in a bid to address the state’s shortage of doctors. The doctor-patient ratio in Punjab was actually ranked as one of the best in India in September last year. The Times of India reported that Punjab had one medico for every …

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Ill health is killing more Indians than terror. Time to change priorities?

Ill health deaths: 97 percent. Terror deaths: 0.007 percent. Let us first take a moment to digest the headline. “The two issues that took significance and helped the BJP return to power were national security and Hindu nationalism, with claims that both are under threat by unforeseen powers. The reality is different: people are dying …

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How an unskilled workforce leads to subpar healthcare

When talking about the state of healthcare in India, accessibility is only one part of the problem. Healthcare must be readily available, yes, but it must also be high-quality. A workforce dogged by shortages of qualified personnel presents a significant challenge to making this a reality. New research published in BMJ Open shows that India …

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Mental healthcare relief in Tamil Nadu

Much of the coverage surrounding mental health in India tends to focus on the treatment gap – manifest in shortages of infrastructure and personnel. In Tamil Nadu, however, there is some good news. The state has opened its second mental health hospital. The Theni Medical College and Hospital is now home to an Institute of …

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Ayurveda bridge course comes into force in Maharashtra

The first group of ayurvedic doctors have joined government-run health centres in Maharashtra to help bridge the doctor-patient gap. 1,000 such providers have joined 508 health and wellness centres (HWCs) across the state as mid-level health providers, after clearing a so-called ‘bridge course’. This refers to a six-month training course, which would allow doctors practising …

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