MYSURU: Most doctors including young graduates are willing to work in rural areas. But they want the government to create conducive atmosphere and improve the condition of hospitals and labs in villages and taluks, said Dr C N Manjunath, director, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 'Summer Dreams,' the Graduation Day ceremony of the Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute organized on the JK Ground here on Sunday, Manjunath said that in semi-urban and rural areas doctors often face threat from local people. Cases of assaults on doctors and nurses are on the rise. Hence they are scared and reluctant to work in these areas. Unless these issues are addressed and adequate facility is provided to doctors and other medical staff, they will not come forward to offer their services in rural areas, he added."Instead of coming out with more number of medical colleges, the government must focus on strengthening the existing hospitals and primary health centres. Efforts and resources should be channelised towards providing facilities such as medicines, laboratories and intensive care units in rural health centres and appointing more doctors, nurses and technical staff," Manjunath said.Dr Bhavika Vajawat, who emerged topper in ENT and paediatrics to MMC & RI said, "Rural health is very important. We are ready to work in rural areas provided the government improves the working condition and facilities in the health centres. Along with that remuneration should also be hiked to encourage doctors to take up rural service."Dr HR Bharath, topper in medicine said, "In rural places even basic investigation facilities and infrastructure are lagging, putting more pressure on territory hospitals. The burden on territory hospitals can be reduced if the government upgrades the existing facility at the rural health centres."Dr S Abhishek, topper in anatomy said, "As interns we worked at peripheral centres in rural areas. Some of these centres did not even have proper medicines in adequate quantities. If such is the situation, no doctor will be interested in working in these areas."

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