Hyderabad: On January 12, 2011, the Union Health & Family Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has asked the state governments to establish more medical colleges. As per sources, he also directed the state governments to increase the number of students in Post-MBBS and PG medical courses. He said that the Government of India has provided Rs 53000 crore to the states under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the last six years.
Further, Mr. Azad said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed Bachelor of Rural Healthcare course to overcome the shortage of medical staff in remote and hilly areas of the country. In addition, he said that key health indicators like infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate still remain areas of concern despite the triumph made under National Rural Health Mission. He said this at the national conference of State Health Ministers and Secretaries.
As per sources, around 25 ministers and secretaries of health and medical education will participate in the two day conference. Further, sources informed that the conference is expected to analyze the current state of implementation of health programmes in the country and the steps to be taken for strengthening them. Besides, an issue related to the health sector will come up for discussion in the conference.
