IMA Citizens' Health Charter: A Road Map to Kerala Health in 2025

Abstract

The Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, as adopted by the International Health Conference, 1946; defines Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Kerala has achieved good health indicators compared to other Indian states and even some of the developed countries. However Kerala's performance lags behind many countries in terms of reducing MMR and IMR. While the IMR of Kerala is better than most Indian states, the reduction in the rate has stagnated for the last two decades. The health sector in Kerala is now facing many challenges, which are driven by declining investments in the public health sector and inadequate attention to the social determinants of health.

On 8th November 2014, at its 57th Annual Conference at Kovalam, Trivandrum India, the Indian Medical Association Kerala State branch accepted adopted and proclaimed a Citizens Health Charter along with 'Kerala Health: 2025-A Road Map' specifying the goals and effective strategies to achieve them by 2025. The charter calls for an acceptable level of health care for all, which can be attained by the year 2025 through an optimal use of the existing and available resources, an evidence based State health policy, accepting the role of social determinants of health and to ensure the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation; safe and healthy food; nutrition and housing; healthy working and environmental conditions; health education and information and gender equality. The charter reiterates that State has the responsibility to mobilize additional resources that may well be devoted to health and social development of the state.