Health is a vital asset of a community and the
Source : Chary Srinivas V, "Institutional Arrangements and Capacity for
Service Provision for urban poor in Hyderabad, Draft Report Submitted
to WSP-SA, UNDP-World Bank, 1999
foundation of a strong nation, it is an important determinant of a country's
economic and social development. Disease creates a vicious circle by depleting
human energy, leading to low productivity and earning capacity, deteriorating
quality and quantity of consumption and standard of living.
Health conditions of a person and economic development go hand in hand
because the better the health condition, higher the level of their capabilities
to develop economy. Health of the community at large should be taken into
account while considering the development of a region or country.
A large proportion of hospitals, dispensaries, clinic and medical centres
are found mostly in urban areas than in rural areas. According to the
Planning commission of India, 20 percent of the population living in urban
areas have access to 70 percent of the total hospital beds and 80 percent
of the doctors. Though all varieties of health services are available
in our cities, not all sections of the community are benefited by these
facilities. There is a wide gap in the utilisation of health services
across the various sections. Certain sections of the population, especially
slum dwellers, are deprived of their fair share in the existing medical
care facilities.