Health care at the grassroots: Village Health Guides and community participation in rural Punjab

Abstract

Village Health Guides are meant to act as link between government health systems and the rural population. A sample survey in Bhatinda and Kapurthala districts, in which VHGs and village leaders were selected as respondents in a multistage sampling procedure, shows the services of the VHGs have not entirely been in tune with the needs of changing times and demands of the community. The mismatch has arisen because of poor recruitment procedures, lack of proper training, insufficient support in terms of medicines and equipment, absence of suitable incentives, inadequate and irregular monitoring and evaluation, and deficient interlinking with existing institutions of community leadership.