Who Are ‘Informal Health Providers’ and What Do They Do? Perspectives from Medical Anthropology

Abstract

About IDSThe Institute of Development Studies is one of the world's leading organisations for research, teaching and communications on international development. Founded in 1966, the Institute enjoys an international reputation based on the quality of its work and the rigour with which it applies academic skills to real world challenges. Its purpose is to understand and explain the world, and to try to change it -to influence as well as to inform.IDS hosts five dynamic research programmes, five popular postgraduate courses, and a family of worldclass web-based knowledge services. These three spheres are integrated in a unique combination -as a development knowledge hub, IDS is connected into and is a convenor of networks throughout the world.The Institute is home to approximately 80 researchers, 50 knowledge services staff, 50 support staff and about 150 students at any one time. But the IDS community extends far beyond, encompassing an extensive network of partners, former staff and students across the development community worldwide. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for teaching or non-profit purposes, but not for resale. Formal permission is required for all such uses, but normally will be granted immediately. For copying in any other circumstances, or for re-use in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publisher and a fee may be payable.

At the margins of biomedicine: the ambiguous position of ‘Registered Medical Practitioners’ in rural Indian healthcare

“…) found that informal providers make up a significant portion of the healthcare sector globally. Manifold definitional problems beset comparison in this field, not least concerning the kinds of practitioner included under the rubric of ‘informal provider’ (see Cross and MacGregor ). But studies from Bangladesh (Ahmed et al .…”

“…Symbols of biomedical practice – like injections, the use of the stethoscope, blood pressure apparatus and glucometer, or advertising a ‘clinic’ – also by association convey to clients an RMP's credentials as an allopathic practitioner (cf. Cross and MacGregor , Pinto ). In one case, an elderly Muslim Unani practitioner saw his four sons all become RMPs, situating themselves as his inheritors, but unlike their father located pragmatically and rhetorically within biomedicine.…”

“…By extension this leads to reflection on the role of the state in rural health care. While this is a question with relevance well beyond India itself, much of the existing literature focuses on South Asia (see Cross and MacGregor , Sudhinaraset et al . ).…”

“…By extension this leads to reflection on the role of the state in rural health care. While this is a question with relevance well beyond India itself, much of the existing literature focuses on South Asia (see Cross andMacGregor 2009, Sudhinaraset et al 2013). The empirical core of this paper starts at village level, by examining what accounts for RMPs' popularity with clients.…”

“…We concur with Cross and MacGregor (: 13), who write: ‘Rigid definitions of biomedical practice miss the hybrid nature of everyday medical practice in many parts of the world where providers adapt or syncretise their practices and, in doing so, blur the boundaries between biomedicine and nonallopathic traditions’.…”