On the State of the Public Health (Annual 1993)

Considerable improvements in health over the year have been achieved, according to this year's report, with the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine having a significant impact on reported infections. The Government's White Paper, The Health of the Nation, still provides an important impetus for improving health. Long-term strategic aims to improve health continue to head in the right direction, although three continue to cause concern: cigarette smoking in young people; suicide in young men; and obesity. New issues identified during 1993 include the health of adolescents; genetic factors and disease; changing patterns of infectious diseases; and asthma.