A Contemporary Rural Health Care: model for India

Abstract

Health care is the prime area of focus in Central government efforts at influencing public health, and this focus is expressive in all the eleven five-year plans, planned till date. The National health policy initiated by the parliament of India in 1983 and amended recently in 2002, endorses complete responsibility and jurisdiction of primary health care in rural India on the state and local governments. However, in all the five year plans central government is coordinative and planning with the state government on sponsoring major health programs for the rural and semi urban sectors across the country. Despite of serious efforts by the Government, there is a wide gap in demand and availability of primary health care services across the country and especially in rural sectors. The article tries to review certain requirements of primary health care in rural sectors and identifies contemporary ways to handle these issues.