Health for All by the year 1990? Progress in Yorkshire

In 1985 the World Health Organization proposed 38 health targets towards Health for All by the Year 2000, 20 of which were due by the year 1990. A questionnaire study was made of progress towards Targets 31-38 in the Yorkshire Health Districts. Target 31 (quality of health care) showed fair progress. Trends were positive but progress slow on research strategy (Target 32), management support (Target 34), health staff training (Target 36) and evaluation of technology (Target 38). Little or no progress was discerned on information (Target 35) and training of non-health staff (Target 37). Healthy policies at local level are not matched by healthy national policies (Target 33), e.g. on tobacco. These deficiencies are likely to undermine the development of a national health strategy in response to Health of the Nation.