NEW DELHI: : Expressing serious concern over the fact that the Indian health indicators were among the worst in the world, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday called for huge investment in the health sector so that goals of development and economic growth could be achieved."Investment in health, while essential for economic progress, is not motivated purely by economic considerations. We recognise health as an inalienable human right that every individual can justly claim. So long as wide health inequalities exist in our country and access to essential health care is not universally assured, we would fall short in both economic planning and in our moral obligation to all citizens," Dr. Singh said while delivering the 34th annual convocation address at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here after inaugurating its Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Dr. Singh, who was conferred the AIIMS' honorary fellowship, said the expansion of private healthcare would address the needs of the affluent and those covered under the organised medical care programmes.

No answer

"I strongly believe that the bulk of the provision of basic health services and medical care, particularly for the poorer sections of society will continue to be in the public domain for many more decades. Millions of people living below the poverty line and in our rural areas will continue to depend on Government as the primary healthcare provider. Private care cannot be the immediate answer to the needs of those who do not have basic purchasing power," he said. .

Exhorting AIIMS and other similar institutions and national policy-makers to refashion the healthcare system to meet the needs of this segment of society, he said: "The National Rural Health Mission we have launched will take care of primary health care issues. Policies must be framed to meet the hospital needs also. A balance needs to be struck between the government and private initiative in this context."

Many factors

Asserting that health was the result of many factors of which medical care was just one and urging the medical fraternity to reflect on the ways by which basic health levels could be improved, Dr. Singh said: "I entrust the government, health policy planners and the medical fraternity with the task of exploring ways by which we can bring the health status of the rest of the country to the levels in Kerala, that has world-class health indicators, in the next decade. It is only when society at large benefits from government investment in high class medical care that we can say that the investments have borne fruit."

AIIMS-like institutions

Speaking at the ceremony where 380 medical students were awarded degrees, Union Health Minister and AIIMS president Anbumani Ramadoss detailed the steps being taken to improve the health sector.

He underlined the need for opening six new AIIMS-like institutes in various States so that patients need not come to Delhi for treatment.

"The Rural Health Mission is one such project, the impact of which will be visible in the next three years. We will also be introducing compulsory rural training for medical students and bringing Clinical Establishment Act for quality healthcare besides introducing modern and more practical curriculum in undergraduate medical courses," he added.

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