GoI expenditure on healthcare shows that it is their last priority: IMA Mah President 

Dr Hozie Kapadia – The idea of ‘Bridge course’ is useless

 “India spends 1.4% of GDP on health, less than Bangladesh, Sri Lanka which shows that healthcare is the last priority for government”, said Dr Hozie Kapadia, president IMA Maharashtra.

Along with this, IMA termed the ‘bridge course’ as an absolute waste and useless idea, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) strongly opposed it. During an interaction with media, Dr Hozie Kapadia, president IMA Maharashtra said that allowing dentists to practice family medicine through a bridge course, is not going to solve the crisis that India has been facing regarding the shortage of doctors.

It may be noted that the proposal for ‘bridge course’ has already received a nod from Prime Minister Office (PMO) on 9 April 2019. Now, another meeting to further discuss the proposed idea is scheduled to be conducted on Monday, i.e. April 22, 2019.

As per government of India, the course would allow Dentists to practice general medicine, which they claimed is going to solve the acute shortfall of doctors at rural area in the country.

To this, Dr Kapadiya said, “this is totally useless. The government do not want to look into the depth of problem.”

“No one can imagine the healthcare crisis at remote areas. Government says this course will help to make the service reach to poor people at villages. But due to extreme lack of facilities at PHCs and hospitals at villages, no doctor wants to go there”, said Dr Kapadiya.

According to union health ministry, more than 65% of health professionals are available in urban part of country for 31% of population, whereas in rural areas, 33% of health professionals are available for 70% of population.

Dr YK Deshpande, immediate past president of IMA(Maha) said, “If government seriously want every doctor to practice general medicine, than better they should first make MBBS degree mandatory for them.”

“Once, MBBS is completed, atleast the doctor would have required basic information to practice family medicine. Later, they can choose or do whatever specialization they want”, opined Dr Deshpande.

Expressing serious grievance, IMA stated that dentists do not have proper knowledge about general medicine, as a result, allowing them for practice would directly impact the patients.