How Might India’s Public Health Systems Be Strengthened?

Das Gupta, Monica; Shukla, Rajendra; Somanathan, T.V.; Datta, K.K.

dc.creator	Das Gupta, Monica
dc.creator	Shukla, Rajendra
dc.creator	Somanathan, T.V.
dc.creator	Datta, K.K.
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:14:09Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:14:09Z
dc.date	2009-11-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-18T19:38:58Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-18T19:38:58Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20091125082536
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4332
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/249832
dc.description	The central government s policies, though well-intentioned, have inadvertently de-emphasized environmental health and other preventive public health services in India since the 1950s, when it was decided to amalgamate the medical and public health services and to focus public health services largely on single-issue programs. This paper discusses how successive policy decisions have diminished the Health Ministry s capacity for stewardship of the nation s public health. These decisions have introduced policies and fiscal incentives that have inadvertently enabled states to prioritize medical services and single-issue programs over broader public health services, and diminished the capacity of the public health workforce to deliver public health services. Diseases resulting from poor environmental health conditions continue to impose high costs even among the more affluent, and hinder development. There are many approaches to strengthening the public health system, and the authors suggest one that may require relatively little modification of existing structures and systems. They suggest establishing a focal point in the Health Ministry for public health stewardship, and re-vitalizing the states public health managerial cadres as well as the grassroots public health workers. The central government could consider linking its fiscal support to states with phased progress in four areas: (1) the enactment of state Public Health Acts; (2) the establishment by states of separate public health directorates; (3) the re-vitalization of grassroots public health workers; and (4) health department engagement in ensuring municipal public health. The central focal point could provide the needed support, oversight, incentives, and sanctions to ensure that states build robust public health systems. These measures can do much to help governments use public funds more effectively for protecting people s health.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5140
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	AVIAN FLU
dc.subject	AVIAN INFLUENZA
dc.subject	BASIC LEGISLATION
dc.subject	BEDDING
dc.subject	BLINDNESS
dc.subject	BURDEN OF DISEASE
dc.subject	CANCER
dc.subject	CHILD HEALTH
dc.subject	CHILD HEALTH SERVICES
dc.subject	CHILD MORTALITY
dc.subject	CHOLERA
dc.subject	CITIZENS
dc.subject	CLINICAL SERVICES
dc.subject	CLINICS
dc.subject	COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
dc.subject	COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
dc.subject	COMMUNITY MEDICINE
dc.subject	COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
dc.subject	CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
dc.subject	COST-EFFECTIVENESS
dc.subject	COSTS OF TREATMENT
dc.subject	DEATHS
dc.subject	DEMAND FOR SERVICES
dc.subject	DENGUE
dc.subject	DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DIABETES
dc.subject	DISASTERS
dc.subject	DISEASE CONTROL
dc.subject	DISEASE OUTBREAKS
dc.subject	DISEASE PREVENTION
dc.subject	DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
dc.subject	DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
dc.subject	DISPENSARIES
dc.subject	DRINKING WATER
dc.subject	DRUG RESISTANCE
dc.subject	DRUGS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC CHANGE
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
dc.subject	ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES
dc.subject	EMERGENCIES
dc.subject	ENDEMIC DISEASES
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
dc.subject	EPIDEMIC
dc.subject	EPIDEMICS
dc.subject	EXERCISES
dc.subject	EXPENDITURES
dc.subject	EXTERNALITIES
dc.subject	FAMILY HEALTH
dc.subject	FAMILY PLANNING
dc.subject	FAMILY WELFARE
dc.subject	FLU PANDEMIC
dc.subject	FOOD HANDLING
dc.subject	FOOD SAFETY
dc.subject	FOOD STORAGE
dc.subject	GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT CAPACITY
dc.subject	GRASSROOTS WORKERS
dc.subject	HAZARDS
dc.subject	HEALTH AUTHORITIES
dc.subject	HEALTH BUDGETS
dc.subject	HEALTH CARE
dc.subject	HEALTH CONDITIONS
dc.subject	HEALTH ECONOMICS
dc.subject	HEALTH EDUCATION
dc.subject	HEALTH EXPENDITURE
dc.subject	HEALTH FACILITIES
dc.subject	HEALTH FINANCING
dc.subject	HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
dc.subject	HEALTH LEGISLATION
dc.subject	HEALTH MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	HEALTH NEEDS
dc.subject	HEALTH OFFICIALS
dc.subject	HEALTH ORGANIZATION
dc.subject	HEALTH OUTCOMES
dc.subject	HEALTH PLANNING
dc.subject	HEALTH POLICIES
dc.subject	HEALTH POLICY
dc.subject	HEALTH REGULATIONS
dc.subject	HEALTH RESOURCES
dc.subject	HEALTH RISKS
dc.subject	HEALTH SECTOR
dc.subject	HEALTH SERVICE
dc.subject	HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY
dc.subject	HEALTH SERVICES
dc.subject	HEALTH SPECIALIST
dc.subject	HEALTH SYSTEM
dc.subject	HEALTH SYSTEMS
dc.subject	HEALTH TRAINING
dc.subject	HEALTH WORKFORCE
dc.subject	HEPATITIS
dc.subject	HOSPITALS
dc.subject	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	HYGIENE
dc.subject	ILL-HEALTH
dc.subject	ILLNESS
dc.subject	IMMUNIZATION
dc.subject	IMMUNIZATIONS
dc.subject	INFANT
dc.subject	INFANT MORTALITY
dc.subject	INFANT MORTALITY RATE
dc.subject	INFECTIONS
dc.subject	INFECTIOUS DISEASES
dc.subject	INFLUENZA
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	INJURIES
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS
dc.subject	IODINE DEFICIENCY
dc.subject	LABOR FORCE
dc.subject	LACK OF FOOD
dc.subject	LATRINES
dc.subject	LAWS
dc.subject	LEPROSY
dc.subject	LIFE EXPECTANCY
dc.subject	LOCAL AUTHORITIES
dc.subject	MALARIA
dc.subject	MALARIA CONTROL
dc.subject	MALARIA INCIDENCE
dc.subject	MALE HEALTH
dc.subject	MALE HEALTH WORKERS
dc.subject	MALNUTRITION
dc.subject	MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
dc.subject	MEDICAL CARE
dc.subject	MEDICAL DOCTORS
dc.subject	MEDICAL EDUCATION
dc.subject	MEDICAL FACILITIES
dc.subject	MEDICAL OFFICER
dc.subject	MEDICAL RESEARCH
dc.subject	MEDICAL SERVICES
dc.subject	MEDICAL TRAINING
dc.subject	MEDICINE
dc.subject	MIDWIFE
dc.subject	MIDWIVES
dc.subject	MIGRANTS
dc.subject	MINISTRY OF HEALTH
dc.subject	MORBIDITY
dc.subject	MORTALITY
dc.subject	MORTALITY DECLINE
dc.subject	MORTALITY DECLINES
dc.subject	NATIONAL HEALTH
dc.subject	NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY
dc.subject	NATIONAL POLICY
dc.subject	NATURAL DISASTER
dc.subject	NATURAL DISASTERS
dc.subject	NURSE
dc.subject	NURSING
dc.subject	NUTRITION
dc.subject	OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
dc.subject	OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
dc.subject	PERSONAL COMMUNICATION
dc.subject	PLAGUE
dc.subject	PLAGUE CONTROL
dc.subject	POLICY DECISIONS
dc.subject	POLICY GOALS
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
dc.subject	POLICY SERIES
dc.subject	POLIO
dc.subject	POLIO ERADICATION
dc.subject	POLIO ERADICATION PROGRAM
dc.subject	POPULATION DISCUSSION
dc.subject	POPULATION GROWTH
dc.subject	POPULATION STUDIES
dc.subject	PREVALENCE
dc.subject	PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES
dc.subject	PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
dc.subject	PROGRESS
dc.subject	PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
dc.subject	PUBLIC ATTENTION
dc.subject	PUBLIC AWARENESS
dc.subject	PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
dc.subject	PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERS
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
dc.subject	PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS
dc.subject	PUBLIC SERVICES
dc.subject	QUARANTINE
dc.subject	RABIES
dc.subject	RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
dc.subject	RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
dc.subject	RURAL DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	SANITARY CONDITIONS
dc.subject	SANITATION
dc.subject	SCHOOL HEALTH
dc.subject	SCREENING
dc.subject	SEPTIC TANKS
dc.subject	SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
dc.subject	SMALLPOX
dc.subject	SOCIAL POLICY
dc.subject	STATE GOVERNMENTS
dc.subject	T.V.
dc.subject	TB
dc.subject	TECHNICAL EDUCATION
dc.subject	TECHNICAL INFORMATION
dc.subject	TECHNICAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	TREATMENT
dc.subject	TROPICAL MEDICINE
dc.subject	TUBERCULOSIS
dc.subject	TYPHOID
dc.subject	URBAN AREAS
dc.subject	URBAN DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	URBANIZATION
dc.subject	VACCINATION
dc.subject	VACCINATION PROGRAMS
dc.subject	VACCINE
dc.subject	VECTOR BORNE DISEASES
dc.subject	VECTOR CONTROL
dc.subject	VENTILATION
dc.subject	VITAL STATISTICS
dc.subject	WASTE
dc.subject	WATER SUPPLIES
dc.subject	WORKERS
dc.subject	WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
dc.subject	YAWS
dc.title	How Might India’s Public Health Systems Be Strengthened?
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	South Asia
dc.coverage	South Asia
dc.coverage	South Asia
dc.coverage	Asia
dc.coverage	India