BRHC Graduates- a Rural Substitute for Physicians

The report, ‘Which Doctor for Primary Health Care — An Assessment of Primary Health Care Providers in Chhattisgarh,' was prepared by the Public Health Foundation of India. The report highlights the importance of rural health care providers in India. Chhattisgarh was the first state to ideate the concept of health care providers for rural areas, who came to be known as rural medical assistants (RMAs). According to a survey conducted by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), clinical care providers with a shorter duration of training are a competent alternative to physicians. However, the survey report also mentioned that limiting the service of Bachelor of Rural Health Care (BRHC) graduates to the sub-centres only, as has been proposed, would result in under-utilisation of their potential.