Imrana Qadeer
Health care systems in transition III. India, Part I. The Indian experience
Jawaharlal Nehru University
indian society distinguished marked cultural pluralism relatively young population 1999 grown one billion regional economic diversity complex social structure extremes poverty wealth make planning challenging task developing economic selfreliance tackling poverty building strong welfare state major commitments newly independent india 1949 conscious effort made invest education health services constitutionally health services responsibility provincial states role central government define policies provide national strategic framework financial resources specified services services people crossing international borders medical education 26 states two union territories districts operative units wherein population 1315 million served network primary health centres phcs subcentres organized pyramid district hospital apex health sector planning two major thrusts first build infrastructure provide basic medical care maternal child health mch services health information education referral services second develop specific national health programmes control communicable diseases provide family planning services fpss control severe forms nutritional deficiencies carry tasks support system developed included education training research health information monitoring drug equipment production etc excerpt