State of rural health service

IN the face of declining health service at the rural hospitals, the health minister has voiced his concern over the matter. He put it down to doctors skipping duties at the rural hospitals, while speaking at a recently held regional conference on health informatics in the city. In terms of rural health complexes, however, Bangladesh has a fairly good infrastructure. The shortcoming is in its underutilisation.
The health minister's desperation over doctors' absenteeism in rural areas is understandable. But what baffles us is how can the physicians continue to stay in service defying the authorities? Should not the ministry concerned ensure that the doctors serve at rural health complexes rather than express its helplessness over the situation?
Sadly, people in our villages are being denied their rightful access to health service, when information technology has come in a big way to deliver it to people living in the remotest corner of the globe. To improve things, the government has been exhorting as well as offering various inducements to persuade doctors to stay at their rural duty stations. It's all very well and good. But why can't they be equal to their noble calling and serve patients at their places of posting on their own?
It's hardly surprising that medical treatment is getting costlier for the rural patients, because, unable to find any service near at home, they have to rush to the cities for it. This is leaving a damaging impact on their social and economic situation. The government must go all out to ensure that health service is delivered to the rural people right at their doorsteps.