M K Rajakumar
There are two worlds of rural health. In one, the targets are a better quality of life and longevity. In the other, it is subsistence and survival. This other world is not represented at meetings such as ours. Do we have an obligation to make our deliberations relevant also to the health needs of this poorer rural people who are a majority of the world's population. Does the medical profession have a special burden of resposilbilty to be concerned. Do rural doctors in wealthier communities have a duty to show that they care for this other rural people? The time is opportune for an initiative on rural health where rural doctors and health centres in wealthier countries put out their hands to work with rural doctors in poor countries to help impoverished communities. This conference, following on our Durban resolution, could change good intentions into good deeds.