Community rheumatology in India

The current perspective is based on the author's experience with COPCORD (community oriented program for control of rheumatic diseases) in India and clinical practice in Center for Rheumatic Diseases (CRD), Pune. Almost half of the patients at the CRD consist of people from rural areas and small towns scattered all over Maharashtra. CRD also coordinates 13 COPCORD survey sites all over India. During the last three decades or so, COPCORD has accumulated an unprecedented quantum of community data on musculoskeletal pain and life styles and is thus an appropriate platform for describing the status and challenges of community rheumatology in India.