Abstract
This research examines rural households’ treatment seeking behavior and identifies variables that prevent them from utilizing public health services. It also highlights the fact that most AYUSH doctors and Allopathic medical graduates work in urban areas, leaving thousands of rural households to rely on unqualified individuals for primary care. Unless there is a change in perspective, this problem will persist. Misdiagnosis, inappropriate medication use, and the subsequent emergence of multi-drug resistance are all risks that come with continuing to rely on incompetent practitioners. The educational foundations of accepting this method have also been outlined, along with the reality surrounding allopathic practice by AYUSH practitioners.
From our perspective, the rural poor lack access to quality medical care for urgent problems because of state restrictions that permit non-allopathic practitioners to lawfully practice allopathy. Furthermore, it makes little to no difference in supporting the legitimacy of traditional medicine, the most well-known of which being Ayurveda. First, we will contextualize our remarks inside the recently introduced National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2017. The terms of this bill necessitate the evaluation of the resource needs of the health care workforce as well as the establishment of a strategy to address those needs. Second, we are in favor of reintroducing the system that existed prior to the country’s independence. This system consisted of competent medical assistants who were registered on a new schedule from the medical registration of each state. These assistants were able to provide immediate medical care and make informed suggestions for additional diagnostics or specialist treatment.
Keywords: Allopathy, Ayurveda, AYUSH, Rural household.