| As a result of the concentration of doctors in urban centres in India, large numbers of the rural primary health centres are vacant. The reasons underlying this maldistribution of physicians are five: (1)primary health centres are responsible for too large a population; (2)the needs of these populations are not properly assessed; (3)medical and paramedical personnel are not provided with basic amenities, i.e., latrines, potable water, electricity, educational facilities for thei provision of drugs is inadequate; and, most important of all, (5)the doctors' medical education does not prepare them for the task of serving in a poor rural community. Rural health in India, the author points out, depends on health education, preventiv and emergency medical care. He suggests that doctors be given a brief orientation before they go to rural posts. He further advocates the establishment of a new cadre of auxiliary health worker, similar to those in some socialist countries, for deploymen Statistical data on physician distribution, numbers of medical graduates, and numbers of training institutions are included. |