Poor healthcare in MP forcing BPL to pvt hosp: Study

BHOPAL: In absence of adequate healthcare infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh, around 50% below poverty line (BPL) people are left with no option but to knock doors of expensive private hospitals and clinics, states a study conducted by an NGO.
The study conducted by Madhya Pradesh Lok Sangharsh Sajha Manch, report of which was released on Saturday, states that government-run hospitals in the state lack basic facilities, have no adequate staff or are far off.
The study of maternal and child health was conducted in 16 districts of the state which are considered to be backward. Of the 41 health centres surveyed, 19 centres did not have adequate staff.
"Some 15% pregnant women surveyed could not register under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM). Over 33% of respondents gave birth at home, raising eyebrows over health department's Mamta Abhiyan which promotes child and mother care. Some 43% could not even had access to Janani Express for delivery," a representative of the NGO said.
Some 900 families were interviewed in the survey. Districts included Burhanpur, Chhattarpur, Damoh, Dhar, Dindori, Gwalior, Indore, Mandla, Panna, Rewa, Satna, Shahdol, Sheopur, Shivpuri and Umaria.