Health Problems in India

India is a large developing country and has world's second most population. Health system of India at present not adequately developed to provide better health to her population. The trained health personnel like doctors, nurses and other supporting staff in comparatively to population of country is very low. Most of health facility are available in city areas and in rural areas no good health structure and highly trained health workers are available.

An assessment of the health status and health problems is the first requisite for any planned effort to develop health care services.

‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. (According to WHO)

Health problem is a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain.

Data required for analyzing the health situation

1. Medical and health services available.

2. Morbidity and mortality statistics.

3. Demographic condition of the population.

4. Environmental conditions which have a bearing on health.

5. Socio-economic factors which have a direct effect on health.

6. Cultural background, attitudes, beliefs, and practices which affect health.

Types of Health problems in India

1. Communicable disease problems.
2. Non-communicable disease problems.
3. Nutritional problems.
4. Environmental sanitation problems.
5. Medical care problems.
6. Population problems.

1. Communicable disease problems

Communicable diseases continue to be a major problem in India. Diseases considered to be of great importance today in communicable diseases are:

1. Malaria
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrheal diseases.
4. Acute respiratory diseases (ARI).
5. Leprosy
6. Filaria
7. AIDS
8. Others: Kala-azar, Meningitis, Viral Hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis, Dengue fever, Enteric fever, and Helminthic infestations.

2. Non-communicable disease problems

Non-communicable disease problems in India

3. Nutritional Problems

In India the following are the nutritional problems at present:

1. Protein-energy malnutrition
2. Nutritional anemia
3. Low birth weight
4. Xerophthalmia (Nutritional blindness)
5. Iodine deficiency disorders
6. Lathyrism and Endemic fluorosis.

4. Environmental sanitation problems.

In India environmental sanitation problem, which is multifaceted and multifactorial. The twin problems of environmental sanitation are lack of safe water in many areas of the country and primitive methods of excreta disposal. Population explosion, urbanization and industrialization leading to hazards to human health in the air, in water, and in the food chain

5. Medical care problems

India has a national health policy. It does not have national health services.

The financial resources are inadequate to provide better health services to her people.

Approximately 80% of health facilities are concentrated in urban areas. Even in urban areas, there is an uneven distribution of doctors.

The rural areas where nearly 72% of the population live, do not enjoy the benefits of modern curative and preventive health services.

Thus, the major medical care problem in India is unequable distribution of a available health resources between urban and rural areas, and lack of penetration of health services to the social periphery.

6. Population problems

The population problem is one of the biggest problems facing the India.

Due to excess population unemployment, education, housing, health care, sanitation, and environmental pollution problem is greatly increased.

India is second largest populated country and estimated population of India is 142 crores in 2024.