Though India is among the countries that have made rapid strides in medical technologies, the patient doctor ratio continues to be abysmally low. It is not just that general practitioners who are in short supply, but other specialities too, according to a recent report.
The most noticeable of specialities to be affected by shortages is cancer speciality. It has been revealed that the country has nearly one crore of people who need attention. Experts fear darker days ahead as they say that within the next few years figures can rise by up to 20% with more women needing attention than men.
Speaking about the shortages plaguing the country, Dr Purvish Parikh, an oncologist, at Somaiya Hospital and president of the Indian Society of Paediatric and Medical Oncology said, “It is true that the shortage of cancer doctors is out of proportion with the shortage in medical manpower in other specialities.”
“There are some 1,500 oncologists in India (medical, radiation and surgical). There are 50 paediatric oncologists and 30 gynaecological oncologists. Though they are not all concentrated in the metros — Nashik has four medical oncologists, Indore has five — there is no denying that there is a problem that we can only manage if we look for innovative solutions,” he added.
What is more alarming is the fact that the adverse doctor-patient ratio is unlikely to be corrected in the near future. Experts say that the only way out is to come up with dramatic measures. As an example they point out the meagre training facilities available for some specialities. DM for example has only four seats approved by the Medical Council of India, reports add.
http://www.thenewsreports.com/india-reeling-cancer-specialists-shortage/9626/nandhakumar
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