Centre to spend Rs 1,20,000 crore on health

Bangalore, Jul 9: Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan said that the Centre will be spending Rs 1,20,000 Crore during next 10 years under National Rural Health Mission.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the 15th Anniversary of Bangalore Hospital here last night, Mr Rajasekharan sought equal participation from Private Sector to make the Mission successful and ensure Health to all.

Stating that the Public expenditure on Health in 1992-93 was 1.3 per cent by the Centre, while it was 4.96 per cent by the State, he said that the per capita public expenditure on health was Rs 205.56 by the Centre and Rs 238.38 by the State, which was very low.

Mr Rajasekharan said that top priority was accorded to Health sector under the XI Plan, approach paper of which is ready.

Calling upon the Doctors to serve in rural areas, Mr Rajasekharan said that the health situation in rural areas is worst. Considering the grave situation of Bihar, which has highest number of Cancer patients in India, the Centre has announced a special package of Rs 1000 Crore."There are 125 to 180 Cancer Centers in the country but the need was at least 800 to 900," he added.

He said that India tops in highest number of heart patients among 16 large countries in the world. It may be due to change in life style and pollution. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) 30 to 33 million diabate patients are in India.

He said that in USA 38 per cent of Doctors serving are Indians and in United Kingdom it is 40 per cent."Of course this is the contribution of our Doctors to Health sector but in India the situation is very worst especially in rural areas and there is urgent need to address the problem immediately. Doctors should concentrate more on rural health besides contributing to urban sector." Earlier, the Minister felicitated Lt. General Dasirathi Raghunath who was awarded lifetime achievement Award by the Bangalore Hospital.

UNI