The Ministry of Health has decided to provide basic health services and medicines free of cost through health posts across the country. It has also decided to appoint an MBBS doctor, in each of the 214 health posts being run by the government throughout the country. Ironically, 29 of the health posts, especially those in the remote regions, are still being run without medical staff, let alone doctors. In some places, even small hospitals are run by people other than doctors. It may therefore be too much to expect that the government decision will be easily implemented, and soon enough. It is painful that, despite government initiatives, patients in the villages continue to die for lack of timely medical care.

This is partly to be blamed on the insensitivity of medical practitioners who are generally

unwilling to accept their postings outside highly accessible urban centres. On the other hand, the government too seems to have failed to encourage medical practitioners to offer their services in the rural areas. Doctors are often learnt to have complained about the lack of medical equipment and medicines in most of the hospitals and health posts. Moreover, the government should also offer greater incentives and benefits to those serving in remote places. Mere intentions will not deliver.