More than two-thirds of Indians live in villages, but the healthcare facilities in these areas are yet to show the progress seen in urban areas. The chances of you going to a rural health facility without a doctor or a health professional is still very high in the country. The analysis of the data available with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare tells us that things are way worse than they used to be 17 years ago, in 2005. As per Rural Health Statistics, 2014, there is a shortfall of 36346 Sub Health Centers (SCs), 6700 Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and 2350 Community Health Centers (CHCs) against the specified population norm. As per Rural Health Statistics Bulletin (RHS) 2014, a total of 2225 (8.89%) Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are functioning without doctor, 9825 (39.26%) PHCs without Lab Technician and 5739 (22.94%) PHCs without a pharmacist in the country.

This lack of healthcare facilities in rural areas has resulted in a significant disparity in the health outcomes of urban and rural populations. People in rural areas are more vulnerable to diseases due to poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, and malnutrition. The shortage of medical professionals has also led to a lack of awareness about preventive healthcare measures. As a result, preventable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrhea continue to claim many lives in rural India. To address this issue, the government has launched various initiatives such as the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Ayushman Bharat. However, there is still a long way to go to bridge the gap in healthcare facilities between rural and urban areas. It is crucial to prioritize the development of healthcare infrastructure in rural areas to ensure access to quality healthcare for all.

Limited resources:

Rural areas often have limited resources and healthcare facilities. Many rural communities lack adequate hospitals, clinics, and medical personnel. This means that people in rural areas may have to travel long distances to receive medical care, which can be especially challenging during a pandemic.

Increased healthcare needs:

The pandemic has led to increased healthcare needs across the board, and rural communities are no exception. In fact, rural communities may be even more vulnerable to the pandemic due to a lack of access to healthcare and other resources

Higher risk populations:

Rural communities often have higher populations of older adults and people with underlying health conditions, which put them at a higher risk for severe illness and death from COVID19.

Economic challenges:

Rural areas have been hard hit by the economic impacts of the pandemic, with many people losing their jobs or experiencing reduced hours. This can make it even more difficult for people in rural areas to access healthcare, especially if they can’t afford to travel long distances or pay for medical care.

Mental health:

The pandemic has also taken a toll on people’s mental health, and this is especially true for people in rural areas. The isolation and lack of access to mental health services in rural areas can exacerbate mental health issues.

Awareness:

Health knowledge awareness of rural residents was quite low and the way of receiving health knowledge was simple and traditional. One of the critical factors was education level. Direct results showed that lower income families always obtained higher health knowledge level than the rich families.

As a member of our association, you will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of many individuals and communities. We welcome volunteers and donations to support our cause and help us achieve our goals. Our team comprises of highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to providing the best services and making a difference in people’s lives. We believe that healthcare is a basic human right and our vision is to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare services regardless of their geographical location or financial status. Join us today and be a part of this noble cause. Together, we can make a difference and create a better future for all.

The healthcare facilities in rural areas in India have not advanced as much as urban areas. Data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare show that the situation has worsened since 2005, with a shortage of sub health centers, primary health centers, and community health centers. Many primary health centers are operating without doctors, lab technicians, and pharmacists. With nearly 69% of India’s population living in rural areas, healthcare services in these areas need to be improved. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the challenges faced by rural healthcare systems.

Overall, the pandemic has highlighted the need for increased attention and resources for rural healthcare. It’s important that we address the challenges faced by rural communities and work to ensure that everyone has access to the medical care they need, regardless of where they live. Also, according to the recently released Rural Health Statistics 2021-22, community health centres (CHCs), primary health centres (PHCs), and health subcenters (SCs) all operated with staffing levels that were lower than even those of the year before, 2020 sub-centres-21. This has led to disparities in access to healthcare and health outcomes between rural and urban areas. This is a major issue for the VHRA, as we are working to bridge the gap between these centres and their required staffing levels in order to provide better care to those living in rural and remote areas. Considering the current rural healthcare services in India, we look forward to solving the existing problems and bringing about a revolutionary change in the healthcare system by introducing these innovative measures.

Therefore, Vocal Health and Research Association is attempting to establish 1000 general healthcare centres in rural areas in the next 3-5 years, that will provide multidisciplinary healthcare services. The organisation is aimed at helping poor and disabled people with innovative healthcare programmes. At every rural population of 3000-5000 people, VHRA aims to establish 1 general healthcare centre with high skilled professionals and cutting-edge technology. VHRA believes that by making these healthcare centres available, rural India will benefit from increased access to high-quality, comprehensive health services. These centres will concentrate on providing healthcare services to those in the greatest need. VHRA will achieve this by providing cutting-edge medical technology and access to skilled healthcare professionals.