Reproductive and Child Health in India: A Health Systems Development Agenda

Abstract

The Government of India has adopted the 1994 Cairo agenda with speed and commitment at the highest level, recognising that improving reproductive health, including family planning, is essential to the development of the family welfare programme. The changes now being put in place signal a significant shift from a programme measured primarily by contribution to declines in fertility and population growth rates, to one which recognises the need to satisfy the needs of individuals for a variety of high quality services, as well as contributing to demographic objectives.