"Six new AIIMS in the country will start functioning by April next year in different states, including Jodhpur in Rajasthan. This will ease pressure on AIIMS Delhi and research work will get momentum," he said at a press conference here.
Highlighting achievements of the UPA government, Azad said that the government has taken new initiatives and launched several flagship schemes and programmes in different fields, including the health sector.
"The number of doctors and nursing staff is inadequate in the country but the government amended rules two years back to change the scenario and improve situation in medical education. Forty-six new medical colleges came up in the country...Seats in MBBS and PG courses were increased considerably," he said.
UPA's flagship schemes like National Rural Health Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme have benefited people in the country at large, he said.
"We are concerned about the diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attack which will be high in next 18 years. We started a pilot project in 100 districts of the country for screening these diseases," he said.
"The UPA government took several initiatives in different sectors including social security and impact of these will come before people after 8-10 years," Azad said.