Punjab's rural dispensaries crumble amid urban health push, staff freeze
A total of 1,186 rural dispensaries were set up in Punjab under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 2006 to provide healthcare through Panchayati Raj Institutions and bring basic medical services closer to villagers. However, a majority of these dispensaries are not functioning as intended. More than 600 dispensaries across the state do not have a single medical officer (MO) posted, leaving rural residents without access to essential healthcare, said an official privy to the matter.
Doctors reassigned, dispensaries neglected
In 2017, a total of 129 dispensaries were transferred from the rural development department to the health department in a bid to improve management. However, many of the medical officers were reassigned to primary health centres (PHCs) and urban health centres (UHCs), leaving the rural dispensaries understaffed and dysfunctional.
Currently, only 530 rural medical officers (RMOs) work under the zila parishads, insufficient to cover all the rural healthcare centres.
In areas like Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur and Ferozepur, rural residents are forced to travel 30 to 40 kilometres to access basic medical treatment.
Amarjeet Kaur, a resident near Barnala, said: 'Our dispensary opens only occasionally and there is no doctor. We are given a few tablets, but for serious illness, we have to go to the city.'
No staff recruitment
Health workers and rural residents say there has been no recruitment for rural dispensaries in over a decade. Rajesh Sharma, secretary of the Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA), criticised the Punjab government for ignoring rural healthcare needs. 'While urban areas get more clinics and facilities, village dispensaries are being ignored,' Sharma said. 'Bureaucrats, backed by urban doctors with vested interests, have misinformed political leadership, stalling recruitment,' he added.
Sharma also raised concerns about the government's announcement of new medical officer posts, suggesting that doctors may not be posted to rural areas. 'In the past, doctors have been assigned to rural centres on paper but continue to work in urban hospitals,' he added.
Infrastructure in ruins
In addition to staffing shortages, many rural dispensaries lack basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and furniture. There are also issues with medicine supply, with stocks often running out for months at a time. According to a doctor working in rural Punjab, 'there is an erratic supply of medicines. Some dispensaries have medicine for only two or three months a year'.
Rural healthcare activists point out that while the SAD-BJP government had made improvements, things started to deteriorate under the Congress government from 2017 to 2022, and now, under the AAP government, the system seems to be in complete neglect.
While the rural development minister and secretary could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts, an official from the department acknowledged the issue. 'We are aware of the shortage and have flagged it with higher authorities. We are working on how to fill vacancies and recruit doctors, particularly in remote areas where PCMS doctors are unwilling to work,' the official said, requesting anonymity.
The official also mentioned that the department has begun the process of procuring medicines for rural dispensaries and aims to resolve supply chain issues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Rainbow Medicare expands to Northeast
Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Rainbow Children's Medicare Ltd (RCML), a leading multi-speciality pediatric hospital chain, announced on Tuesday that it will acquire a 76 per cent controlling stake in Guwahati-based Pratiksha Hospital for around Rs171 crore. The acquisition, fully funded through RCML's cash reserves and internal accruals, values Pratiksha Hospital at an enterprise valuation of Rs171 crore. The company has signed a definitive agreement with the hospital's promoters for the stake purchase. Post-acquisition, RCML will hold a majority share while founder-promoter Dr Pramod Kumar Sharma and his family will retain the remaining 24 per cent stake. Established in 1995, Dr Sharma is recognised as a pioneer in IVF and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery in Northeast India. Pratiksha Hospital began operations in Guwahati and achieved a milestone in February 1997 by delivering its first IVF baby.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
RCML acquires Guwahati-based Pratiksha Hospital for ₹171 Cr
Hyderabad: Pediatric multi-speciality hospital chain Rainbow Children's Medicare Limited (RMCL), has announced the acquisition of Guwahati, Assam-based Pratiksha Hospital for around ₹171 crore. The transaction will be fully funded via RCML's cash reserves, internal accruals and it will acquire a 76 percent controlling stake, while the hospital founder Dr Sharma & his family will retain the balance share, the release stated. Following the acquisition, the hospital will be rebranded as 'Pratiksha Rainbow Children's Hospital' and will be fully integrated into Rainbow's national network, it added. The 150-bed facility provides IVF services and post the acquisition RMCL capacity will expand to 2,185 beds across 21 hospitals in 8 cities. Commenting on the announcement, Dr Ramesh Kancharla , Chairman & MD, RMCL said, 'This partnership empowers us to reach a wider community and deliver top‑tier pediatric and maternal care to the families of Assam and Northeast India.'
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Roasted ‘makhana' and protein chips, young India loves it's snacks with benefits
At around 6pm every day, after her work calls wrap, 28-year-old Sonia Sharma reaches for a cookie. But this isn't the buttery, processed kind she grew up sneaking from a tin box. It's dense, crumbly, made with whole wheat, ghee, jaggery—and a hint of ajwain and mulethi. 'It tastes familiar, like something my grandmother might have made," she says. 'But now it comes with a nutrition label and words like 'immune support' and 'digestive health.'" Sharma, a marketing executive in Noida, is part of a rising wave of Indian consumers trading comfort snacking for functional eating. She still loves her evening chai, but the sev has been swapped for roasted makhana with sea salt and protein chips. 'I don't count calories," she says. 'I count how something makes me feel at 9pm—whether I'm sluggish, bloated, or fine." Her pantry now includes things like trail mixes, seed bars, and 'calming" infusions with ashwagandha or brahmi. But the logic isn't just about trend or aspiration. For Sharma—and millions like her—snacks are no longer guilty pleasures. They're mini-meals with purpose. 'I wouldn't say I understand every ingredient," she admits. 'But if it's got ghee and mulethi and says it's Ayurvedic? That's enough for me to give it a shot." FROM STREET SNACK TO SUPPLEMENT India's $10 billion packaged health food market is expected to nearly triple by 2026, according to a 2020 report titled India Unjunking: A USD 30 Billion Appetite for Health Food by Avendus Capital. At the core of this growth is an unlikely driver: snacks. With a 25.2% compound annual growth rate, healthy snacking—from trail mixes and fruit bars to savoury, high-protein chips—is the fastest-growing segment. While health food penetration in the US stands at 31%, India's is just 11% leaving ample room for expansion. The report also found that 64% of Indians now snack through the day, with 47% doing so two to three times daily. Notably, 85% say they scrutinize packaging and nutrition facts when choosing ready-to-eat options. 'We're seeing strong engagement from Gen Z and health-aware millennials—especially those interested in Ayurvedic living," says Akshi Khandelwal, founder of Butterfly Ayurveda and Café Swasthya. 'But our core audience is 35 to 45 years. They're focused on preventive and therapeutic choices." Her Ayurvedic cookies—made with whole wheat, jaggery, and herbs like ajwain and mulethi—draw on remedies rooted in digestion and immunity. To Khandelwal, a healthy snack is minimally processed and made with whole ingredients, free of synthetic sugars, excess salt, or starch. 'Awareness is growing," she says. 'But we still have a long way to go." Four key forces are fuelling India's health food boom. Post-covid awareness is rising, with 70 percent of Indians rethinking their diets and 35 million children following suit. Rising affluence is doubling the number of households earning over $15,000 by 2026. A massive millennial base—440 million strong—is both willing and able to spend on wellness. And as online shoppers grow from 150 million to 300 million, especially in smaller cities, digital access is helping niche health brands scale fast and wide. CAN SNACKS EVER BE HEALTHY? 'Our core belief is simple: if people were okay with bland food, they'd eat boiled eggs. But snacking has to be joyful," says Aditya Poddar, founder of Fitfeast, protein snack brand." Fitfeast builds every product with a 'taste-first" mindset benchmarking against indulgent treats like chocolate, then swapping harmful ingredients for better ones: dates for sugar, jaggery for syrups and FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) for fillers. According to Dr Ashok Kumar Jhingan, senior director at BLK-MAX Super Speciality Hospital, ingredients like soluble fibre, protein, and omega-3s can support hormones such as GLP-1, aiding in appetite control and glucose regulation. For people with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, high-protein, low-carb snacks can help stabilize blood sugar and curb cravings. Still, he warns, not all labels tell the full truth. 'Over-processing, additives, and nutritional gaps can undermine these benefits—especially if snacks replace whole meals rather than supplement them. When Delhi-based Sumitra Jha, 34, was diagnosed with diabetes, she cut out sugary foods entirely —no more cream biscuits, no more chocolate during moments of stress. 'I used to have a sweet tooth, but I just stopped abruptly," she says. 'It felt safer that way." Then her sister brought her a packet of sugar-free protein bars. Jha was skeptical, but after researching the ingredients online and reading reviews, she gave them a try. 'It's not just the protein, I genuinely love the taste," she says. For a food to be truly 'functional," it should offer measurable health benefits through specific bioactive components, delivered at effective and safe doses. Few packaged snacks meet this bar. So how do you tell what's legit? 'Look for ingredient transparency, clearly stated quantities, and compounds backed by clinical research," says Pariksha Rao, director of nutrition and medical affairs at The Good Bug. 'Don't be seduced by buzzwords. And most importantly, remember: no single snack is going to 'fix' your gut or rebalance your hormones." Transparency, once a fringe concern, has become a central tenet in the rise of so-called 'better-for-you" snacks. 'We're publishing lab reports. If we make a mistake, we acknowledge it," says Poddar of Fitfeast. Nikunj Biyani, co-founder of SuperYou, is candid about the growing skepticism surrounding wellness claims. 'We welcome scrutiny," he says. 'The industry needs more of it, not less." From the outset, SuperYou set out to build what Biyani calls a 'seriously functional" product — not just a better-sounding one. Every nutritional claim is backed by third-party lab testing, and all formulations are developed with accredited nutritionists and food scientists. 'We're not trying to replace whole foods like fruits or vegetables," he notes. 'But there's space between meals where people reach for something quick, and we want that to be clean and genuinely nourishing." While 'clean-label" has become a buzzword in Indian wellness marketing, Biyani believes what sets SuperYou apart is its refusal to hide behind it. 'We've avoided fillers, hidden sugars, synthetic sweeteners, even palm oil — despite the cost advantages," he says. Instead, the brand leans into 'radical honesty": short ingredient lists, functional nutrition, and innovation rooted in intent. At Supafuelz, a fortified drinks & snacks brand for kids, founder Shruti Sharma is tackling what she calls the 'hidden hunger" in Indian children. Over 73% of urban Indians are reportedly protein deficient, and more than 80% of children lack adequate micronutrients. Supafuelz's high-protein cookies and bars avoid refined sugar, gluten, and preservatives—not to chase trends, Sharma insists, but to protect against additives still widely permitted in Indian packaged foods. 'Our products are developed with CFTRI-certified nutritionists and manufactured in robotic, FDA-approved facilities," she explains. 'We want children to grow up ingredient-literate—not food-fearful." WHAT DOCTORS WANT YOU TO REMEMBER 'The rise of functional snacks—products fortified with protein, fiber, collagen, or probiotics—has ushered in a fragmented view of nutrition. These ingredients, while theoretically beneficial, often come embedded in ultra-processed formats laced with added sugars, artificial colors, and synthetic additives, undermining the very health claims they tout," states Dr Suchismitha Rajamanya, lead consultant and head of internal medicine at Aster Whitefield Hospital in Bengaluru. Her chief concern lies in the illusion these snacks foster: that a protein cookie or fiber bar can stand in for a balanced meal. 'Even the most 'healthified' snack cannot replicate the nutritional depth or natural synergy of whole foods," she explains. 'Functional snacks can serve a purpose—addressing a short-term gap or specific need—but they must exist within a broader diet grounded in diversity: fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and minimally processed foods. They're additions, not substitutes." Dr Sharad Malhotra, senior consultant and director of gastroenterology at Aakash Healthcare, Delhi encounters a similar trend. 'People often believe that swapping regular fried chips for baked, palm oil–free versions is a meaningful upgrade," he says. 'But that's often wishful thinking." While ditching trans fats and refined oils may slightly reduce inflammation or benefit gut health, the overall nutritional improvement is typically overstated. 'Many so-called healthier snacks are still packed with preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and high sodium—all of which can disrupt the gut microbiome and contribute to long-term metabolic imbalance," he explains. Malhotra stresses moderation over marketing. 'Snacks like chickpea crisps or probiotic gummies can have a place—but only when consumed in context, and in moderation. A protein bar may curb mid-day hunger, but it's not a replacement for whole food. And palm oil–free chips still come with a calorie burden." Tanisha Saxena is a Delhi-based independent journalist. She writes stories that are on the intersection of art, culture and lifestyle.
