What does it mean to practice medicine in a rural hospital for five decades?
In this reflective piece, Dr. S. P. Kalantri shares his journey from a young doctor earning ₹650 a month to a lifetime of service at Sevagram. Through real experiences with patients, clinical dilemmas, limited resources, and everyday medical decisions, the memoir offers a rare look at the realities of rural healthcare in India.
It is not just about medicine, but about choices, lessons from patients, and the human side of clinical practice.
Read the full article:
https://www.medboundtimes.com/medicine/dr-s-p-kalantris-memoir-of-medicine-and-life-in-sevagram
Stay tuned for more insightful pieces from Dr. S. P. Kalantri on medicine, patients, and life in rural India.
MBH/AB
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A young medical professional should always serve rural people. Because they have not been properly. In urban side everybody making healthcare sectors for business purpose and financial at most time. Then traveling as a village people its often difficult .
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During my internship in the sub-district hospital in Sringar Garhwal, I closely observed the reality of healthcare in a government hospital. And honestly, it’s not that good. It’s very challenging for doctors and staff to maintain patient health during a serious emergency due to a lack of facilities in the hospital. But respect for doctors like Dr. S.P. Kalantri for becoming bakbone of these hospitals.
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Rural practice helps one doctor in many ways as a doctor gets to see a patient closely as doctor patieng relationship is better in rural areas
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Definitely, rural postings hold relevant learning experiences, especially for young doctors. Being a dentist who has served in the rural areas of karnataka, for a few months, I agree to the fact that it was a fruitful learning experience and I got the most hands on learning to basic dental procedures, compared to any other posting in the urban areas. As doctors, we learn to work and diagnose with the least possible resources, which definitely upgrades our skill, knowledge and trains us for the worst possible scenarios. But this should not come at the cost of basic amenities like basic food, water and lodging. I have read so many articles/blogs online where doctors have complaining of being deprieved of basic amenities and have receiving a very basic pay for keep up with the same. If the government has taken the responsibility of establishing a rural centre, it should provide a good pay and basic resources to the doctors serving there, who have showed up after a lot of sacrifices.
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Quietly powerful journey. in this field practical experiences teach more than books true…
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Knowledge is everywhere; it is all about the way we learn and apply it
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In rural areas, it is difficult to maintain patient health due to lack of facility. The government should improve infrastructure and post doctor in rural areas. If facilities are improved students would be willing to go for a learning opportunity.
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Rural practice helps doctor in many ways as a doctor gets to see a patient closely as doctor patient relationship is better in rural areas
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India has always been dominated by its rural culture. Medical practices differ drastically in rural areas when compared to urban areas. Main differences include scarcity of resources and medicine. This gives young doctors inspiration to look beyond traditional routines they have learned during their college days.
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Working in rural healthcare often demands own clinical judgements beyond theories, empathy, dedication; as the urban health sector is slowly evolving to a pure business sector in many aspects. Moreover a young doctor can learn compassion and adaptability from such experiences.
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Working in rural areas teaches young doctors lessons that textbooks often cannot provide. Limited resources and equipment push their work to depend on clinical judgement. Experiences like these can shape young doctor into more confident, responsible and patient-centered healthcare professionals.
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For young doctors rural service is not about a job itself but also the importance of community health,preventive care and patient education which is one the main objective of improving publice health outcomes.
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During my 6 years of experience working as a sonographer in a remote area was unique like no comparison with the well equipped tertiary hospital with all advanced facilities. Sitting in a remote facility with a limited resources you learn humanity, experience different culture and diversity.
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Knowledge is omnipresent
Working in rural areas makes one face the real challenges in the healthcare it helps one to understand the need to treat and the importance of prevention
in rural areas young doctors can work on both treatment and prevention.one gets exposed to multilinguistic approaches
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Rural practice teaches lessons that textbooks cannot. It challenges doctors to think critically and make the best use of the basic resources available to provide effective patient care. Dr. Kalantri’s journey highlights dedication, resilience, and the human side of medicine.
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Stories like these highlight the realities of medicine in rural healthcare. Dr. S. P. Kalantri’s work in resource limited rural settings reflects how clinical judgement, patient trust, and adaptability remain essential to meaningful medical practice beyond technology and infrastructure.
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Rural practice for a doctor in rural area is blessing always.
Very great opportunity to learned and enhance their skills , how to manage with less resources.
Find out major reasons why people are not continue treatments ,their food habits, endemic disease , etc with discussing with other rural health workers and rural area residents .
As general also how to live good lifestyle with essential resources only , which are bare minimum for living
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Healthcare sector, being service-oriented, such situations are unavoidable. But the love and blessing one receives during rural practice sum it up. Experience you gather during such terms working with limited resources makes a lifetime lesson.
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An inspiring reflection on service, resilience, and the true spirit of medicine in rural india
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