In this article we will discuss about the various landmarks of community medicine and public health.
(A) International:
460-370 B.C.
Hippocrates, greatest Greek physician, applied clinical methods in medicine.
He studied and classified diseases based on observation and reasoning.
He is known as FATHER of MEDICINE.
His famous oath is basis of medical ethics.
Hippocrates was also a hygienist. He studied such things as climate, water supply, clothing, nutrition, habit of eating and drinking. He had written a book AIR, WATER AND PLACES.
25 B.C.-50 A.D.
Celsus gave us the cardinal signs of inflammation.
130-205 A.D.:
Galen was pioneer of experimental medicine. He observed that diseases were due to three factors—predisposing factors, exciting factors and environmental factors. He was author of 500 treatises on medical subjects.
865-923:
Rhazes was the first to differentiate between small pox and measles.
980-1037:
Avicenna described first about guinea- worm.
1483-1553:
Fracastorius enunciated the theory of contagion and explained the cause of epidemic and became the Founder of Epidemiology.
1510-1590:
Ambroise Pare revived surgery and became the Father of Modern Surgery.
1514-1564:
Andreas Vasalius of Brussels did many dissections on human body.
1540:
The United Company of ‘Barber Surgeons’ was established in England which later became the Royal College of Surgeons.
1628:
Harvey discovered circulation of blood.
1670:
Leuwenhoek discovered microscope.
1682-1771:
Morgagni founded Pathologic Anatomy.
1753 (1716-1794):
James Lind, a naval surgeon, advocated the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables for the prevention of scurvy.
1796 (1749-1823):
Edward Jenner of England discovered vaccination against Small pox.
1819:
Laennes discovered stethoscope.
1842:
Chadwick’s report on ‘THE SANITARY CONDITIONS OF THE LABOUR IN POPULATIONS’ focused the attention of the people and the governments on the urgent need to improve public health.
1848:
Public Health Act, 1848, in England accepted the principle that the state is responsible for the health of the people.
1865:
Claude Bernard studied experimental medicine.
1883:
Pasteur’s Anti-rabies treatments.
1885:
Discovery of Rabies Vaccine.
1892:
Cholera Vaccine discovered.
1894:
Diphtheria Vaccine discovered.
1896:
Bruce invented sleeping sickness transmitted by tsetse fly.
1898:
Typhoid Vaccine discovered.
1911:
Concept of social medicine was revived by Alfred Gwotjahn.
1921:
B.C.G. Vaccine discovered.
1930:
Pertussis Vaccine invented.
1936:
Yellow fever Vaccine introduced.
1854-1917:
Von Behring discovered the principles of Serum treatment.
1955:
Polio Vaccine discovered.
1960:
Influenza Vaccine discovered.
1970:
Mumps, Measles & Rubella.
(B) National (India):
1825:
The Quarantine Act was launched.
1873:
Birth and Death Registration Act was promulgated.
1881:
1st All India Census was carried out.
1897:
Epidemic Disease Act promulgated.
1911:
Indian Research Fund Association, known as Indian Council of Medical Research, was established for the promotion of Research.
1918:
The Lady Reading Health School, Delhi, was established.
Nutrition Research Laboratories were established at Conoor.
1930:
The All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, was established with the aid of Rockefeller Foundation.
1937:
Central Advisory Board of Health was set up with Public Health Commissioner.
1940:
The Drugs Act was passed.
1943:
The Health Surgery and Development Committee was appointed by Government of India.
1946:
Bhore Committee submitted its report.
1947:
Ministries of Health were established at the Centre and States.
Post of Director General of Health Services was created.
1948:
India joined World Health Organisation.
The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, was passed.
1950:
The Constitution of India came into force. Planning Commission was set up by the Govt. of India which started Five Year Plans—including Health.
1953:
1. National Malaria Control Programme.
2. National Extensive Service Programme started in various states.
3. National Family Planning Programme.
4. A committee appointed to draft a Model Public Health Act.
1954:
1. National Water Supply and Sanitary Programme was started.
2. National Leprosy Control Programme started.
3. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was passed by Parliament.
1955:
1. National Filaria Control Programme commenced.
2. National T.B. Sample Survey commenced.
1956:
1. The Model Public Health published.
2. The Central Health Education Bureau established.
3. The Trachoma Control Pilot Project launched.
4. R.C.A. project was established with aid from Ford Foundation.
1958:
1. National Malarial Control Programme converted into National Malaria Eradication Programme.
2. The National T.B. Survey completed.
1959:
1. The Mudaliar Committee was appointed by the Govt.
2. The Nutrition Research Laboratories at Coonoor were shifted to Hyderabad.
1960:
1. National Nutrition Advisory Committee was constituted to tender advice regarding the nutritional policies.
2. Pilot projects for the eradication of Small pox were initiated.
1961:
1. The report of the Mudaliar Committee was published.
2. The Central Bureau of Health Intelligence was established.
1962:
1. National Small pox Eradication Programme was launched.
2. National Goitre Control Programme was launched.
3. The District Tuberculosis Programme was formulated.
1963:
1. The Applied Nutrition Programme launched.
2. National Institute of Communicable Disease inaugurated.
3. National Trachoma Control Programme launched.
1966:
Mukherjee Committee was constituted
1967:
The Madhok Committee constituted to review the working of the National Malaria Eradication Programme.
1969:
Nutrition Research Laboratories changed to National Institute of Nutrition.
1970:
The Drugs (Price Control Order 1970) initiated.
1972:
1. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act came into existence on April 1972.
2. National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau was set up.
1973:
Kartar Singh Committee submitted its report on multipurpose health workers.
1974:
Parliament enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
1975:
1. India became Small pox-free on 5th July 1975.
2. Nation embarked on Integrated Child Development Scheme.
3. ESI Act was amended.
1976:
National Programme for Prevention of Blindness was formulated.
Indian Factories Act, 1948, amended.
1977:
1. Eradication of Small pox declared in April by International Commission.
2. National Institute of Health and Family Planning formed.
3. WHO adopted goal of Health for All by 2000 A.D.
4. ROME Scheme was launched.
5. Rural Health Scheme was launched.
1978:
1. Expanded Programme of Immunization launched.
2. Declaration of Alma Ata underlined the primary health care approach.
1979:
World Health Assembly endorsed the Declaration of Alma Ata on Primary Health Care.
1980:
On May 8,1980, Small pox was officially declared eradicated from the entire world by World Health Assembly.
1981:
1. The Census of 1981 was carried out.
2. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 enacted.
1983:
1. India launched a National Plan of Action against avoidable Disablement known as IMPACT, India
2. National Health Policy approved by Parliament.
3. Guinea-worm eradication programme was launched.
1984:
1. ESI Act amended.
2. Bhopal gas tragedy took place on the night of 2/3 December.
1985:
Universal Immunization Programme started on 19th November 1985.
1986:
1. 20-Point Plan restructured.
2. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, promulgated.
1987:
1. National Diabetes Control Programme started.
2. National AIDS Control Programme initiated.
3. New 20-point programme launched.
1989:
National Review of Universal Immunization Programme, 1899, carried out.
1991:
Census 1991 carried out.
1992:
National Child Survival State Motherhood (CSSM) Programme launched.
1994:
National Survey on high risk behaviour of AIDS in major cities of India carried out.
April 1995:
Jack A. Roty (University of Texas) had proved 1st time that an infection of P 53 retrovirus gave therapy into lung cancer.
1995:
Pulse Polio Immunisation 1st Dose—9 Dec. 1995.
1996:
Pulse Polio Immunisation 2nd Dose— 20 Jan. 1996.
1996, 1st April:
Family Planning Programme made Target 1997.
2005:
Indian Public Health Standard for Community Health Course formulated.
RCH—Phase II Started.
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched.
Janani Suraksha Yojana started.
2006:
RNTCP covered whole country.
2007:
Upgrading of Rural Hospital under NRHM—period completed.
2008:
Mobile Medical Unit at district level under NRHM.
1997:
Reproductive & Child Health Programme launched.
1998-99:
Renamed National Anti-malaria Programme.
National AIDS Control Programme— Phase II.
2000:
National Population Policy 2000 declared.
2001:
Census of India.
2002:
National Health Policy 2002 declared.
2003:
National Vector Borne disease Control Programme approved.
2004:
Vande Mataram Scheme was launched.
Low osmolarity oral rehydration salt advocated.