Description

Health is a human being's most precious possession, it influences all their activities and shapes their destinies. Without it, there can be no solid foundation for their happiness. Nevertheless, all too often, social planners forget this simple truth and do not take health into account. Integration of health schemes in overall development plans is of paramount importance for the society.1

Good health enhances morale and productivity of people i.e. a healthy person can work full time and has a greater productivity potential, less absenteeism on account of illness, less expenditure on medical treatment & higher savings. Thus, there exist a strong relationship and interdependence between health & economic growth and also between good health and a better quality of life.

The planning commission has stressed the vital importance of public health in the enrichment of community life. It has been stated "Health is fundamental to the national progress in any sphere". In terms of resources for economic development, nothing can be considered of higher importance than the health of the people which is a measure of their energy and capacity as well as of the potential man-hours for productive work in relation to the total number of persons maintained by the nation. A high quality of life and happiness of the people can only be obtained through good health.

Health is defined as "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely absence of disease or infirmity" - World Health Organization (1948)2. In the International Conference at Alma-Ata in 1977, a clause "and ability to lead a socially and economically productive life" was added.