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To understand the private health sector market,
we sampled 158 alternative private practitioners (APP) by locating
the nearest APP for each clinic or PHC. APPs essentially provide
ambulatory (outpatient) medical care and quite well integrated
into the health care market. Homeopathy (34%), Ayurveda (19%),
Ayurveda plus Allopathy (23%), and Allopathy (14%) systems of
medicine are in vogue. Most Homeopathy practitioners (74%) had a
professional degree. A little less than half (40%) of the Ayurveda
practitioners have professional degree. The rest (60%) appear to
continuing family tradition of practice in Ayurveda. A lot (73%)
of those who practice Allopathy alone, had gained experience and
knowledge through internship with Allopathy practitioners. On an
average each APP would see about 50 patients per day. Most of them
treat common complaints like cough, fevers, pain, skin diseases,
diarrhea, etc. APPs readily adopt simple technologies like the use
of thermometer, stethoscope, blood pressure apparatus and oral
re-hydration salt, irrespective of the system of medicine from
which they originated. An important strength of APPs is the
readiness to escort their patients to hospitals if necessary.
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