The policy of levying charges on people seeking healthcare, which requires people to pay before receiving care, has been a contentious issue among health policy-makers and people working in the health sector. The impact of user charges on the health of a nation merits serious consideration.

The medical education system in India may be on the verge of collapse. An exploding number of medical colleges; a skewed distribution of these around the country; devaluation of merit in admissions, particularly in private institutions - all contribute to this gloomy picture.

Female health workers in India face an increasing workload that affects their performance. The authors did a study in 2 districts of West Bengal, India, to quantify their workload and identify determinants of good performance.

Serum cotinine levels are a reliable marker of tobacco use. Few studies have validated questionnaires assessing smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) against serum levels. We undertook such a study in industrial workers in India.

TB diagnostics in India: From importation and imitation to innovation, Bengaluru, 25-26 August 2011.

Over the past decade, India has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the clinical trial industry. The projections forecast a double-digit growth over the next decade propelled by enhanced outsourcing by drug developing companies.

The meta-analysis was done to assess the effect of zinc on the prevention of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI). Trials conducted in developing countries, with randomization and double blinding, were included.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health and developmental emergency, as they cause premature deaths, exacerbate poverty and threaten national economies. In 2008, they were the top killers in the South-East Asia region, causing 7.9 million deaths; the number of deaths is expected to increase by 21% over the next decade.

The assessment of growth is crucial for child care and reference data are central to growth monitoring. The authors aimed to assess the height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of Indian schoolchildren in order to develop gender appropriate growth charts for children 5-18 years of age.

Analysis of the scope and quality of evaluations of health system/policy interventions done in India is not available. Such analysis can help in conducting more useful evaluations. The authors accessed evaluation reports of health system/policy interventions aimed at improving population health in India, reported during 2001-08, which were available in the public domain through extensive internet searches.