Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
The health crisis in developing countries is worsening every day. The
quality of delivery of health services is marred by shortage of funds,poor
management of specific programmes, demotivated and not-so-skilled health
care providers, corruption and pilferage of funds,drugs and equipment.In
India, a country of more than one billion population the primary health
care delivery infrastructure is still under developed. In Uttar Pardesh
its most populated state, no public health facility exists beyond a mini-
primary health care centre (PHC)(Set up for a population of 30,000). The
health care providers at these mini-PHCs hardly have time to visit
communities in the field, who are at the mercy of quacks for health care.
The implementation of Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) for
Pulmonary Tuberculosis poses a formidable challenge to health care
services in India. HIV-AIDS pandemic is threatening the survival of
government managed health care. The misappropriation of funds released to
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the 'Official-NGO nexus' is
responsible for the limited success of efforts aimed at raising awareness
or intervention projects.
The efforts of the international community to help developing countries
over come the health care crisis through funding alone will not help. The
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)in India is a living example of
this. NACO is flush with international funding, its claims to have spent
million of Dollars on its Information Education and Communcation
programmes.Unfortunately the ground situation does not support its claims.
The funding organisations will have to develop systems that ensure
accountability through effective programme/project management. The
landmark success of National Polio Surveillance Project-India, funded by
international donors, manged by World Health Organisation and implemented
through State Governments has pleased all. India is now at the threshold
of polio eradication and its polio surveillance meets international benchmarks. Organisations like WHO,UNICEF,UNFPA, UNAIDS will have to take up
a proactive role in developing countries. They must ensure that the funds
and donations are not pilfered,and utilised through good project
management.
Health crisis in developing countries
The health crisis in developing countries is worsening every day. The
quality of delivery of health services is marred by shortage of funds,poor
management of specific programmes, demotivated and not-so-skilled health
care providers, corruption and pilferage of funds,drugs and equipment.In
India, a country of more than one billion population the primary health
care delivery infrastructure is still under developed. In Uttar Pardesh
its most populated state, no public health facility exists beyond a mini-
primary health care centre (PHC)(Set up for a population of 30,000). The
health care providers at these mini-PHCs hardly have time to visit
communities in the field, who are at the mercy of quacks for health care.
The implementation of Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) for
Pulmonary Tuberculosis poses a formidable challenge to health care
services in India. HIV-AIDS pandemic is threatening the survival of
government managed health care. The misappropriation of funds released to
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the 'Official-NGO nexus' is
responsible for the limited success of efforts aimed at raising awareness
or intervention projects.
The efforts of the international community to help developing countries
over come the health care crisis through funding alone will not help. The
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)in India is a living example of
this. NACO is flush with international funding, its claims to have spent
million of Dollars on its Information Education and Communcation
programmes.Unfortunately the ground situation does not support its claims.
The funding organisations will have to develop systems that ensure
accountability through effective programme/project management. The
landmark success of National Polio Surveillance Project-India, funded by
international donors, manged by World Health Organisation and implemented
through State Governments has pleased all. India is now at the threshold
of polio eradication and its polio surveillance meets international benchmarks. Organisations like WHO,UNICEF,UNFPA, UNAIDS will have to take up
a proactive role in developing countries. They must ensure that the funds
and donations are not pilfered,and utilised through good project
management.
Competing interests: No competing interests