Environmental sustainability was assessed on the basis of the costs of abating the environmental damages. These costs were estimated as a modest 3.5-4.9 per cent of GDP during 1994-1997. While recognising that these estimates are partial and that the social costs of environmental degradation are likely to be higher, Parikh concluded that these costs are not large enough as to negate the benefits of growth.

In the discussion that followed, attention was drawn to his optimistic cost and technology development assumptions and the lack of a fully integrated framework on assessing sustainability. Still, it was viewed as a good start on analysing a complex issue.

Alan Garber of Stanford and his co-authors examined the challenges to China’s public health system regarding control of infectious diseases. Experts believe that an influenza pandemic is overdue and that it most likely will strike first in China. Effective containment of the pandemic requires a timely and effective response in China. The authors note that the SARS epidemic served a useful function in that it forced China’s leaders to reassess their system for preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

China recognises the importance of investing in public health, and has taken action to strengthen its disease control system. But challenges remain. One problem is inadequate funding to improve disease control at front lines. Another challenge is to improve the efficiency of governments, particularly local governments in rural areas, in monitoring health. The authors find that support from international organisations is also critical for China.

Amita Gupta’s paper with Robert Bollinger was on combating HIV/AIDS in India. At the outset she observes that although sound indicators of health such as life expectancy and birth, infant and child mortality have improved considerably since Independence, still a high proportion of the Indian population suffers and dies from preventable causes.

... contd.