"The budget that is allocated to the health sector is relatively smaller compared to other departments... But some of the resources go in more media savvy areas like AIDS...," Singh said, adding that "of course it (AIDS) should not be ignored..."
"...(Resources) could go to more of non-communicable disease or metabolic disease which are actually going to be future challenge for 21st century India particularly metabolic disorders occurring like diabetes and heart attacks at young age," the Union Minister of State in the PMO said.
"When we say that 65 per cent of India is below the age of 35 years, I think it not only becomes a medical responsibility but also a national responsibility to take care of this aspect. We have to plan it scientifically even at the level of the government," he said.
Health Minister J P Nadda, who was present at the event, later told reporters on the sidelines that his ministry's budget has been increasing though the focus is on utilisation of funds.
The government had recently downplayed reports of a massive cut in the health budget this time, saying that no flagship programmes of the ministry will be affected.
Noting that both communicable and non-communicable diseases have increased manifold, Nadda said the strategies which "we have to develop has to stress on primary detection of both these diseases and at the same time ensure that better treatment is given at the tertiary level.
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