'Spending on health must be pushed up'

92nd indian Science Congress kicks off today

The 92nd Indian Science Congress (ISC), to be held here from January 3 to January 7, will have 'Health Technology as Fulcrum of Development for the Nation' as its theme.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the session. President APJ Abdul Kalam will address the delegates on January 5.

N K Ganguly, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, who is the general president of the 92nd ISC, said India needs to enhance its spending on healthcare.

"India's spending on the health sector is less than one per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) as compared with around 10 per cent in the most developed countries. India's spending on health needs to be enhanced to at least five per cent of the GDP. With the focus of the 92nd session of the ISC on health "" and the Prime Minister and President attending it "" we will try to influence the policy makers to enhance the spending on health," he said.

Kapil Sibal, Union minister of state for science and technology and ocean development, will also be present at the session.

During the congress, a host of issues such as environment, water supply, urban lifestyle, community development would be taken up. Harnessing of advanced health technology and its application o have long-reaching impact on the population will also be discussed.

The deliberations will be aimed at providing a road map for collective plans and action in solving these important issues.

"Even in the earlier session of ISC, a strategic decision was taken by the policy makers to enhance spending on science and technology to at least two per cent of the GDP and it is being implemented. We will try to enhance the country's spending on health sector to at least five of the GDP this time," said Ganguly.

"For a one billion-strong country, the healthcare delivery system standards need to be substantially raised. This despite the considerable resources that has already been put in the five-year plans. On the backdrop of India's advancement in science and technology, and with the changing demographic pattern and lifestyle, the entire spectrum of healthcare issues face newer challenges," said Ganguly.