Over the last 25 years there has been a substantial improvement in the health status of the people. Despite these improvements, much still remains to be done. Mortality rates, especially infant and maternal mortality, continue to be unacceptably high. The quality of life of the general population is still very low. Low calorie intake continues to result in malnutrition, particularly in women and children.
Diarrhoeal disease continues to be a major killer.
Communicable and poverty-related diseases that are preventable still dominate the top ten causes of morbidity. The government has formulated a perspective plan keeping in view the needs of the health sector for the future. The formulation of a national health policy would provide strategy directives on major health issues.