Historically, the princely rules of the state, made a small beginning to provide infrastructural facilities for a primary health care system. After the reorganisation of the state, it has reached a fairly high level of standard and soundness. The availability of facilities for primary health care, their accessibility, the very high degree of awareness and acceptability among the people have made in Kerala model an almost perfect one. What is needed at present is to sustain these, by the personnel involved with the active participation and co-operation of the people. With the effective involvement of the private sector which plays a major role in the health sector and with the effects of voluntary organisations this task though throws a challenge is attainable.
The level of achievements attained in the implementation of the various national programmes for control / eradication of diseases and also of family welfare programme including universal immunisation programme and maternal and child health activities has helped the state to reduce the mortality rates and improve the health status of the people. The maternal mortality rate, Life expectancy has enhanced especially that of females to over 73 years. Today the infant mortality rate is as low as 16 and the maternal mortality is below 1, which are comparable to that of some of the developed countries. In 1995 the crude death rate is as low as 6, and the per school child mortality rate is also quite low. In 1991 the general fertility rate was 64.4 and in 1995 the birth rate have reduced to 17.7. The total fertility rate is as low as 1.8 in Kerala by 1992 itself which is the lowest among all the major states in the country. Under all major indicators, the state has already achieved what the country has targeted for achieving "Health for all by 2000 AD".
A brief note on the various programmes implemented in the state is given in this profile. The stages at which they are implemented and the progress made under each may be helpful for persons involved in 'Health', for planning for their own states as well as the country so also to the general public. It is hoped that this would enable them to compare the health standards with those of their own states and other parts of the world.