Health sector allocation of 2 percent of GDP planned

Sunday May 08, 2011 08:47:34 AM, IANS

Pune: The government aims to increase investments in the health sector to 2-3 percent of the total GDP, union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Saturday.

"We are now aspiring to taking the total allocation for the health sector to 2-3 percent of our GDP in the 12th (Five Year) Plan period," Azad said, addressing a seminar here.

The minister said the government has invested over Rs.45,000 crore in the last five years in the health sector.

"The health care sector is now a happening sector in our country. It is witnessing unprecedented growth. Thanks to the impetus provided by the National Rural Health Mission, the government over the last five years has invested nearly Rs.45,000 crore to improve the health care infrastructure right from sub-centre to district hospitals," he said.

According to the mid-term appraisal report of the 12th Five Year Plan, public expenditure on health sector was 1.09 percent of the GDP, combining the allocations by the central and state governments.

The minister added that the government was "willing" to promote public-private-partnership in health care in "certain areas of the country".

"We are willing to promote public-private-partnership in certain areas of the country, where there is an urgent need to have more medical institutions," Azad added.

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Picture of the Day

Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari attended the inaugural ceremony of Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, at Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 06, 2011. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mrs. Sheikh Hasina, Minister of State for Information and Cultural affairs of Bangladesh Promod Mankin and Secretary of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh Begum Suraya are also seen.

(Photo: Debatosh Sengupta)