Dr. MC Gupta forthrightly puts ahead valid arguments in favour of doctors as a counter question to a recent statement about doctors avoiding to work in rural areas.

Doctors can go to rural areas only in one of the two situations--as employees or as private practitioners.

A--As employees (whether in government or private hospitals): Where are the jobs? There are just no jobs. For one post advertised, there are a large number of applicants. If for some positions advertised there are no applicants, it is common sense that the advertiser/employer should find out reasons for not applying and should address those reasons in the next advertisement.

B--As private practitioners-- Nobody has a right to demand that doctors or anybody else should set up shop in a particular area. Any professional or a businessman has freedom to work or not to work in a private capacity. If he decides to work in a private capacity, it is entirely his choice to choose where to work.

SUMMARY--It is sheer nonsense to blame doctors for not going to villages. This nonsense has thrived because of another nonsense, this time on the part of the IMA. Why does the IMA not bring out official statements, widely circulated, with copies to concerned authorities, countering the first nonsense? Why should the IMA not give a research grant for carrying out a proper research study to find the reasons for doctors not going to villages, and why does it not publish the results of the study in reputed journals with copies to the Health Ministry and the Niti Ayog etc.? Why should it be left to social media members/activists/other lesser individuals to counter the first nonsense?

Disclaimer- The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of M3 India.

Content from the writer has been directly replicated on the website with minor edits.

The writer, Dr. MC Gupta is a practising lawyer specialising in medical negligence cases. He also has an MD Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi where he also worked as a faculty member for 18 years, later working another 10 years as a Professor and Dean at National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, before pursuing law.