Report of the Health Survey and Development Committee: Vol. III

Appendix 1 of the report provides the district-level population and the acreage of the 11 provinces surveyed. According to the 1941 census, Bengal had the largest population (60 million), followed by the United Provinces (55 million) and Madras (48.5 million).

The Committee recommended that by the end of the first year of its national health plan, 55 primary healthcare units (19 of them 30-bed hospitals) and 11 secondary healthcare units (200-bed hospitals) be set up in the 11 provinces surveyed (appendix 5). By the end of the plan’s 10th year, there should be 258 primary healthcare units, the number of 30-bed hospitals should go up to 114, the 200-bed hospitals to 11, and 500-bed hospitals to 5.

Appendix 39, which details a syllabus for senior nursing certificate, states that malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, maternity and child welfare, school health and industrial health problems were the major issues that should be studied.

For the prevention of malaria, the Committee consulted an ordinance of the U.S. Public Health Service (appendix 15), the Straits Settlements (appendix 16), and the Bombay Municipal Act (appendix 17). These documents spelled out measures to be taken by the public to prevent water stagnation and mosquito breeding.

A 1941 report on leprosy and its control in India (appendix 19), by a special committee appointed by the Central Advisory Board on Health, recommended compulsory but confidential notification of those infected with the disease. It also said they should be isolated, their maintenance should be at the public’s expense, and health officers should be allowed to inspect dwellings and isolate patients.

A public health engineering diploma was proposed for engineers aged 25-40, who were already involved in public health work in the provinces, such as water supply, sewage works, refuse disposal, housing, malaria control and so on (appendix 33). For students already enrolled in an engineering degree, a course on public health engineering was proposed (appendix 34).

A report by Colonel M. Taylor (appendix 21), on his tour of the 25 major mental hospitals at the Committee’s behest, stated that they were designed more for the ‘detention’ of patients than for their treatment. It also said that a majority of patients deteriorated in ‘custodial care’, hospitals were grossly understaffed and staff underpaid, and most mental health professionals were not adequately qualified.

Taylor also suggested speciality training for all psychiatric care professionals. He underlined the importance of community support for mental hospitals, and said that mental health institutions be brought under government  supervision through legislation.

The memorandum on undergraduate medical education (appendix 28) advocated pedagogical reforms. It said that rather than thrusting a large number of facts on students, they should be encouraged to inculcate medical principles and methods. It emphasised the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and not only the treatment of disease. It also suggested that applied public health be taught throughout an undergraduate’s clinical years.

A report on town and village planning in India (appendix 24) observed that town planning was a neglected science and suggested introducing courses on the subject. It also said that village planning should be consistent with the maintenance of agriculture, employment, the well-being of rural communities and preservation of rural amenities.

Focus and Factoids by Gomathi Sundar.

PARI Library's health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.