The major causes of sickness, death and disability in childhood in the poor countries of the world are remarkably similar, but available medical recourses and the systems of medical care in these countries show great variability. Political aims and social organization would appear to be of greater importance than the availability of technical resources in determining patterns of basic medical care and their effectiveness. Given a favourable socio-political climate the scope of basic medical care, even in countries with very meagre national resources, can be enhanced by effective deployment of human and other national resources, sensible application of intermediate technology and judicious use of more sophisticated technology. The broad objectives of basic paediatric care are stated and examples cited to illustrate various approaches to the attainment of these objectives including suggestions for the use of appropriate technology.
