What is a global burden of disease?

India has 17 percent of the global burden of diseases. It is an indicator used by experts to gauge the number of people dying prematurely due to particular diseases as well as the number of years spent by them in a state of disabilty owing to the diseases. In India, half of the global burden of diseases is accounted for by communicable diseases- such as diarrohea, malaria and tuberculosis. Every year around five lakh children die of water-borne diseases in our country. The danger of AIDS is increasing. Malnutrition and inadequate supply of vaccines lead to death.