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Mizzima: Improved health of populat



Improved health of population is linked to higher economic growth and
poverty alleviation

New Delhi, April 17, 2000

The Commission on Macroeconomics and Health completed three days of
meetings and health-related activities in New Delhi, as part of its
two-year work programme on behalf of global public health.  According to
Harvard Professor and Chairman of the Commission, Jeffrey Sachs, ?The
Commission has collected substantial evidence showing that improved
health of the population contributes to higher economic growth and
poverty alleviation.  It is now working intensively to determine the
most effective policies for governments and the international community
to improve the health of the population, and thereby contribute to
improved human well being and foster economic growth. ?

The Commission was launched in January this year by WHO
Director-General, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, to clarify the economic
links between health and poverty reduction.

The case of India is of central concern to the Commission, since India
represents approximately one-fifth of the world?s total population in
developing countries, and has the largest concentration of the poor. The
Commission believes that India could substantially improve the health of
its people through the concerted efforts of the union and the state
governments, with increased support from the international community.

On Friday April 14, the Commission spent the entire day discussing
presentations by the State governments of Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan
and Andhra Pradesh and public health and economic experts. The
Commission appreciated the need for greatly increased public resources
devoted to health combined with improved management of the Indian health
system.  The Commission held additional meetings on Saturday and Sunday,
and visited several public health facilities on Monday, April 17.

Commission Member, Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Director and Chief
Executive, Indian Council for Research on International Economic
Relations (ICRIER) said, ?Our learning process has just begun.  The
diversity of the Indian experience in health care was conveyed to the
Commission members through high level presentations from four states of
India.  The challenges are very clear.  The Commission will now work
towards evolving an effective and practical response to these
challenges.?

Dr Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister of India, and Member of the
Commission said, ?It is hoped that the Commission?s report will bring
out forcefully the linkages between investments in health, empowerment
of the people and overall pace of social and economic development.?

The Commission will prepare its first report for the 53rd World Health
Assembly meeting in Geneva next month. Several interim reports of the
Commission will be available by September this year. The Commission?s
final report will be issued in December 2001.