Health sector in India--progress, challenges and the way forward

Health is a priority goal in its own right and a central input into economic development and poverty reduction. Significant achievements have been made in a number of areas which include health parameters, legislation, research and technology and disease control. The life expectancy has gone up by 17% since 1981. In disease control significant achievements are in sight. Some new programmes have been introduced with the changes in disease profile. Significant progress can be seen in leprosy control, blindness control, TB control and iodine deficiency disorder control. Some legislations were also enacted to protect life and personal liberty as the constitution holds the right to healthcare as a fundamental one. Immediate medical relief and preventing major outbreak following disasters is another area to fight with. There are some challenges to face with like propulation stabilisation, to reduce infant and maternal matality, mobilisationof funds on health, to increase manpower, to increase female literacy and so on. Control of some diseases like HIV/AIDS, vector borne ones, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, trauma related injuries, mental disorders is another point to improve healthcare delivery. To meet challenges to the health system the way forward has to be multipronged, focusing on finance, manpower, research and social factors like sanitation, drainking water availability, female literacy, etc.