This paper seeks to present a perspective on the wide range of health issues facing India.

Abstract

This paper seeks to present a perspective on the wide range of health issues facing India.

It does so using information from many different sources. The key insights arising from such an analysis are:

  There is large heterogeneity in the requirement of health care.

  This care has to be made accessible at a low cost.

  Needs and requirements are changing rapidly with economic growth and shifts in demographic patterns

Therefore whatever system we come with would also need to be one that smoothly

changes its character with time. All of this, in the belief of the author can best be

achieved through a strong reliance on private initiative – be if for profit or non-profit; and

not by an over-dependence on public modes. The health policy for India should be one

therefore that encourages all types of entry into the health care sector.

This introductory chapter reports the generic health status of the people of India.

The health status of a society is a function of many factors – economic status,

climate, living conditions and habits, availability and quality of health care, all

play an important role. Most of these factors have contributed in the poor health

conditions in India.