| An analysis of the health problems in developing countries readily shows the need for public health services. Unfortunately, too many medical students are trained in foreign countries, or at least, in the European (predominantly curative) tradition. Often a developing country will maintain intact the full programme content of foreign health teaching, for fear of providing its students with a second-rate education. In this paper, economic, health, and educational characteristics of developed and developing countries are statistically contrasted to support the view that public health should be of prime concern in the training of medical students, paramedical personnel, and senior medical officers whose role is health planning. Statistical data are provided by WHO and UNESCO. |