PIP: Since 1/6 of the world population lives in India, the health status of Indians significantly affects the global health situation. India is also a country of contrasts with some states having levels of health similar to the best of other developing countries, to other states having levels of health similar to the worst of other developing countries. India's health system is based on centuries of social tradition; however, it wasn't until this century, that it became clear that the health of workers was directly related to production capacity and thus to the national economy. After independence infant/child mortality was 162/1000 for 1 year olds, the maternal mortality rate was 20/1000, and malaria accounted for 1 million deaths out of 100 million cases. Through an integrated approach to prevention and treatment, these figures have dropped 35.2/1000 for infant mortality. Now, there are other problems like the declining sex ration. In 1901 there were 972 girls/1000 boys, by 1991 this figure dropped to 929. Currently 90% of the population knows about their Public Health Centers, but only 31% utilize the formal health care system, of these 9-23% are dissatisfied.