Public health is faced with new challenges and new opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of populations in India. Epidemiological and demographic transitions are challenging the sustainability of future health care and the quality of life of increasing numbers of chronic patients.
Modern health strategies acknowledge that health care alone cannot improve the health and wellbeing of today's populations. A challenge that is often mentioned is that of insufficient health literacy. This impedes the smooth implementation of many actions and interventions. Opportunities for public health exist in raising the overall level of health literacy, enabling populations at large to take better control over their own health.
Opportunities exist as well in advancing healthy public policies and making the life cycle approach a leading concept. It is becoming necessary to think beyond the traditional vulnerable group’s approach and, instead, use stratifying approaches based on demographic and socio-economic characteristics of population groups.
CII wish to point out the importance of developing partnerships at all levels and across different sectors to improve the health and wellbeing of the population. It is of the utmost importance that decision-makers, professionals from different sectors, non-governmental organizations and private organizations/industries work together in establishing population health and wellbeing through different innovative solutions, and comprehensive health promotion, and thus jointly contribute to better health for all.