Challenges - Evolution of Social medicine in India

Challenges

In the field of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, tremendous changes have taken place, but greater changes can be anticipated in the coming decades. Ideas and policies cannot be static and planning must have enough flexibility to cope with the fast‐changing world of science and technology, of industrialization and urbanization. It is obvious that new horizons and super‐specialties are fast emerging in Preventive and Social Medicine, like Epidemiology, MCH (Maternal and Child Health), IEC (Information Education Communication), Health Management, Health Economics, Nutrition, Demography, Health System Research, Environmental Health, etc. Current developments in Information Technology will certainly alter the face of Preventive and Social Medicine in the coming future.

In the field of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, tremendous changes have taken place, but greater changes can be anticipated in the coming decades. Ideas and policies cannot be static and planning must have enough flexibility to cope with the fast‐changing world of science and technology, of industrialization and urbanization. It is obvious that new horizons and super‐specialties are fast emerging in Preventive and Social Medicine, like Epidemiology, MCH (Maternal and Child Health), IEC (Information Education Communication), Health Management, Health Economics, Nutrition, Demography, Health System Research, Environmental Health, etc. Current developments in Information Technology will certainly alter the face of Preventive and Social Medicine in the coming future.

There are many challenges in the field of Public Health. One of the challenges, which are successfully met, is “Eradication of Smallpox”. This is a wonderful achievement which all of us are proud of. Another disease, which is successfully eliminated, is Guinea worm disease. There were setbacks in some of the programmes like Malaria, Tuberculosis that made us rethink and re‐modify the strategies and re‐implement these national health programmes. As we are able to control some diseases, there will be new emerging as well re‐emerging diseases. This faculty has to be remain alert all the time and prepared for meeting the new challenges