Feeding the Problem, Seeking a Solution: India's Nutrition and Health Paradox

This essay is a description of the apparent cross-purposes at which certain limbs of the Indian government, specifically the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPDCS), seem to be functioning: Some of the workings of the PDS contribute to poor health and non-communicable diseases, while the NPDCS endeavours to control non-communicable diseases. The lacunae and setbacks in public health engendered by the non-convergence of the goals of programmes geared to assure nutritional security and disease prevention are discussed. The ramifications of national policies on the conservation of local culture are alluded to. Faced as India is with multiple challenges of population health, piecemeal approaches such as ad hoc subsidies and policies that skew health behaviours will not answer. It is vital for a holistic view of the country’s problems and potential to be taken, and for this process to begin with the steering of all the government’s policies to the achievement of shared goals.
Source: Journal of Health Management - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Brief Communication Source Type: research