Title: Presidential address.

POPLINE Document Number: 129074

Author(s):

Dutta PK

Source citation:

INDIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 1996 Jul-Sep;40(3):58-61.

Abstract:

While there have been improvements in India's health status over the past 4 decades, many problems still persist. For example, the infant mortality rate has declined from 114/1000 live births during the mid-1980s to 74/1000 in 1993, and other important parameters such as the crude birth rate, death rate, and maternal mortality rate have also shown downward trends. Smallpox was eradicated 2 decades ago and other important communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, and vaccine preventable diseases have also shown downward trends over the past few years due to the impact of various national health programs. However, not all on the health front has been favorable. For example, there has been a disturbing resurgence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, kalaazar, and plague in recent years. Falciparum malaria cases and deaths have occurred in some districts of Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland, and a few other Indian states as well as in many urban areas, including the metropolises of Calcutta, Bombay, and Delhi. Few ongoing health programs are working well in most parts of the country. The author further discusses the changing pattern of diseases; nutritional problems; problems in urban health care; drug abuse; pollution; health manpower development; health systems research; the involvement of private practitioners and nongovernmental organizations; information, education, and communication; continuing medical education through distance education; and geriatric care.

Keywords:

India
Health
Public Health
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries