'Task Force on health to make India a global player'

New Delhi, Mar 16: Acknowledging the fact that India is fast emerging as a global low-cost healthcare provider, Prime inister Manmohan Singh today (Mar 16, 2006) asked the Planning Commission to set up a task force to draw up a plan for augmenting resources and services and accelerating the growth of the sector.

The Task Force on Planning for Human Resources for Health Services is also aimed at overcoming the shortage of doctors, nurses and lab technicians within the country, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

There is a huge gap in the human resources (doctors, nurses and lab technicians) in the health sector in India. This has been highlighted by the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health in its report, the PMO said.

''There are also growing opportunities with India emerging as a major international centre for low cost health care. The fact that India is demographically a young nation gives it an opportunity to have its trained personnel meeting the health care needs of the demographically aging countries,'' it said.

The PM has requested the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwali to set up the Task Force with representatives from the Union Ministry of Health and Health Ministries of selected states and professional experts.

The Task Force will map the gaps in the health sector and identify new opportunities and submit a Human Development Plan for the Indian Health Sector.

UNI