Raise fund allocation for health sector: Doctors

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Concerned over non-availability of modern health facilities to "all sections of people in all parts of the country", leading doctors of the city Wednesday appealed to increase the health sector allocation from the current 0.9 percent to 3 percent.

Addressing the media here, the doctors said India's neighbour Sri Lanka spends about 6 to 7 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health.

"We expect the new government to initiate steps to expand health and treatment facilities and make them easily available to the common man as it has become imperative to provide quality and affordable treatment to all," said C.S. Yadav, professor, Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Agreed Yatinder Kharbanda, senior consultant, Department of Orthopaedics, Apollo Group of Hospitals who suggested the 2014-15 general budget should make provision for increased allocation for the health sector; concession in diagnostics tests for prevention of diseases; and rebates on procurement of medical equipment.

"There is a strong case for launching programmes that will encourage Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the health sector. The government should hammer out a structure for modern treatment systems in small towns, which can encourage the PPP model," he said.