The Answer to India's Rural Doctor Shortage Lies beyond Incentives and Infrastructure

The last decade or so has witnessed a fierce campaign initiated by our powers that be to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas. Among the many problems afflicting rural healthcare, increased (rather disproportionately so) focus has been given to shortage of doctors, and a series of measures have been taken to address it. At first, compulsory rural posting for fresh MBBS graduates was implemented by some states. Measures to regulate the outflow of a handful of doctors to foreign countries, especially the United States, were brought into effect.