Health for and by the people

The need to extend the search for health beyond the current efforts to control disease is emphasized by citing the deficienceis of the current health care model systems. The escalating costs of health care delivery, the emphasis of the current system on treating episodic illnesses rather than chronic disabilities, and the fact that the health care system has less of an impact on health status than socio-economic and life style factors represent major deficiencies in health care delivery. Further, the fragmentation and specialization in education and health care, the exclusion of behavioral science teaching, and the teaching of behavioral determinants of diseases are additional deficiencies of health professions education. The need to develop clear and explicit national health policies, including monitoring of health both of people and communities using indices that relate not only to diseases but also to the qualitative aspect of life, is viewed as an essential prerequisite for the health care system. The assignment of much greater priority to the training of a community health worker and health educator is stressed.