Objectives underlying future patterns of work of national committees on vital and health statistics

As a basis for considering the forms and patterns of national committees on vital and health statistics in the future, the author first discusses the six main objectives of national systems of those statistics. Turning then to the aims of the national committees themselves, he observes that such is the variety of statistcal needs in different countries in view of their different stages of economic development that the work of the national committees at present inevitably differs greatly from country to country and must continue to do so as development continues. However, the common purpose of the committees is to help in developing, or in strengthening, the statistical structure of each country. Any activity or objective of a national committee that furthers one or more of the country's objectives can be regarded as worthwhile and legitimate.