Introduction
The slogan for the World Health Day, 7th April 2007, is "Invest in Health: Build for the Future".
The WHO has defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. India has a long tradition of Health Care. Ayurwveda (literally meaning. Science of Life) clearly stated 2500 years back that the aim of medicine is three-fold: Promotion of positive Health; Prevention of disease; and Treatment of disease when it arises. One new component as part of treatment is rehabilitation.
While talking of "Health Care" most people ignore the promotive and preventive components and concentrate only on the curative components. "Health Care" has therefore become "illness Care". The so-called Health Care Industry also is concerned with illness care, pushing the importance of promotive and preventive function to a poorly neglected secondary position.
