Public Health in india: Challenges Ahead

As the world’s largest democracy and the second most populous country in the world, India has experienced sea change since its independence in various facets of development. However as per public health is concerned, 22 % of our population is malnourished, 48 % of our nation’s children are stunted (UNICEF report) and which is already responsible for the two-third morbidity burden. Adding to existing glaring difference in access and equity to people, the ratio of beds in hospitals available to population in rural areas is fifteen times lower than that for urban areas. The ratio of doctors to population in rural areas is almost six times lower than that in the urban population. The reduction on public health expenditure and the growing inequalities in health care are taking its toll on the marginalized and socially deprived population. The Infant Mortality Rate in the poorest 20% of the population is 2.5 times higher than that in the richest 20% of the population.