Even through breaks in their agitation, the health workers have maintained that their underlying issues are far from resolved. These working conditions for health workers are not restricted to West Bengal. The situation in West Bengal is more dire considering the State government’s healthcare expenditure is only 1% of its gross state domestic product. The doctor-to-patient ratio in West Bengal is similar whereas Kerala has four doctors per 1,000 patients. Need for whistle-blowersFor one, the actual number of doctors and healthcare workers in rural primary and community health centres is lower than in urban areas.

Source: The Hindu October 14, 2024 12:01 UTC