Surgical Training - Human Resource Development in Rural Surgery: Developing the Paramedic Training Programme

The population of India is more than one billion. More than seventy percent of the population still lives in rural areas, or small town on slums. These areas are economically backward and lack in infrastructure development, including electricity, proper housing sanitation, health facilities, educational facilities and trained manpower. It is in such situations that many rural surgeons have set up their practices and have started small hospitals.¹ They provide appropriate care that is affordable to the people and try to use the resources efficiently and innovate if necessary. The paying capacity of the people is very little, there is no social security, and private insurance agencies do not cater to people with such an uncertain financial status. It is very important that the services these doctors provide should be cost-effective despite lack of infrastructure development and shortage of trained manpower.