What a Rural Surgeon can do in his small place totally depends on his personal ability and facilities available to him. As regards scope in Rural surgery he can do anything and sky is the limit. But there are many limitations, which can be broadly divided into three, namely technical problems, professional skill and legal problems.
The technical problems mainly include non-availability of adequate equipment, no facilities for investigations and unqualified paramedic staff.
The single most limiting factor is the professional skill of the surgeon, which depends on the training he has received during his postgraduate studies and his desire and ability to learn newer techniques, after he settles in his practice. The recently launched 'Certificate in Rural Surgery' (CRS) programme by Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi in collaboration with Association of Rural Surgeons in India will definitely help the Rural surgeon to improve his professional skill.
Legal problems have arisen because of many new laws recently introduced in India, which are affecting the Rural Surgeons. If the laws are followed verbatim rural surgeons will have to stop working. There is a need to unite together and fight against these Laws, which are limiting the scope of rural surgery.
