Health is an important and valuable asset. Developing countries like India face the challenges of rapid population growth, contagious and common diseases, malnutrition and physical/mental disabilities. However, India has done a lot of work in the or post-1947 period in the field of health improvement.

(i) Child Health: Infant mortality rate has been considerably reduced by undertaking Universal Immunization Programme. Vaccination for various diseases is provided at childbirth and during early infancy. These include OPV for Polio; BCG for Tuberculosis; DPT for Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus; MMR for Measles, Mumps and Rubella; Vaccination for Hepatitis-B; and Typhoid. With the decline in infant mortality rate, a marked improvement in child health has been noted.

(ii) Control over population growth: Family Welfare Programme (Earlier Family Planning Programme) has enabled India to reduce birth rate to 1.9%p.a.

(iii) Pollution control: Steps have been taken to control environmental pollution by enacting laws relating to water and air pollution.

(iv) Nutrition: To overcome the programme of malnutrition, mid-day nutritious meal programme for school-going children has been started.

(v) Health services: A network of primary health centres, cottage hospitals and civil hospitals in the rural and urban areas have been set up. They provide health services either free or at a nominal fee.