In need of a cure

of 829 basic health units covering 96 per cent of the rural population. Only 229 actually function as health units, according to a Panos Features report. The rest are used as godowns, rest houses, barns and small industries.

Besides, there is a paucity of basic medicines and sophisticated equipment even in the health units that are functional. And only 20 per cent of the country's doctors work in rural areas.