India is a union of 28 states and 7 union territories. Under the Constitution of India, the states

are largely independent in matters relating to the delivery of health care to the people. Each

State, therefore, has developed its own system of health care delivery, independent of the

Central Government. The Central responsibility consists mainly of policy making, planning,

guiding, assisting, evaluating and coordinating the work of the State Health Ministries. So that

health services cover every part of the country and no state lags behind for want of these

services. The health system in India has three main links i.e. Central, State and District and

Peripheral.

National Level

1) Union Ministry of Health and Famay Welfare Organizations

a) The Uplion List

The functions given in the union list are:

i) International health relations and administration of post quarantine.

ii) Administration of Central Institutes such as AII India Institute of Hygiene and Public

health, Calcutta, National Institute for the Control of Communicable Diseases, DeM.

iii) Promotion of research through Research Centres and other bodies.

iv) Regulation and development of medical pharmaceutical, dental and nursing profession.

v) Establishment and maintenance of drug standards.

vi) Census and collection and publication of other statistical data.

vii) Immigration.

viii) Regulation of labour in the working of mines and oil fields.

ix) Coordination with States and with other ministries for promotion of health

b) Concurrent List

The Centre and States have simultaneous powers of legislation, the powers of the latter are

restricted to the frame work of such legislation as may be undertaken by the Centre.

The concurrent list incmdes:

i) Prevention of extension of communicable diseases from one