Shortage of pediatricians affects India's healthcare ecosystem: AHPI

The Association of Health Care Providers in India (AHPI) has appealed to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to seriously look into the issue of lack of pediatricians across the country. According to the director-general of AHPI, the association has found a lack of pediatricians, added with malnutrition and polluted drinking water are some of the major reasons for such casualties.

New Delhi: Days after India was shocked with infant deaths in Rajasthan and Gujarat, the Association of Health Care Providers in India (AHPI), has appealed to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to seriously look into the issue of lack of pediatricians across the country.

The AHPI has compiled a report following the death of infants in Rajasthan and Gujarat. "We have compiled the report. We will submit it to the health ministry very soon," said Dr. Giridhar Gyani, AHPI director-general.He said that in its report, the association has found a lack of pediatricians, added with malnutrition and polluted drinking water are some of the major reasons for such casualties.

"We have 25000 pediatricians whereas the requirement is about 2 lakh. The 6500 community centers (30 bedded hospitals) have a shortage of 80 percent in respect of pediatricians, " said Dr. Gyani.

He said that tribal areas in India don't have infrastructure as well.

Dr. Gyani said that infectious diseases including pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhea, measles, malaria, poor vaccine practices are some of the major causes of infant deaths.

In Gujarat and Rajasthan, more than 600 infants have reportedly died since December 1.

High infant deaths have been reported from three hospitals in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat.

Almost all the deaths occurred in the neonatal and perinatal ICUs. Neonatal mortality is newborn deaths occurring within 28-days postpartum. This is attributed to inadequate access to basic medical care during pregnancy and after delivery.

Dr. Gyani said that lack of access to water, sanitation, proper nutrition, and basic health service resulted in 802,000 infant deaths (out of which 605000 were neonatal deaths) in India in 2017.

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