Recognising the need to address complex challenges in the health sector, PM Manmohan Singh has said allocation for it has beenenhanced by about three times in the 12th Plan Period with enhanced thrust on nutrition and sanitation.

He also noted that free generic drugs will be made available through all public hospitals in the country to help in reducing out of pocket expenditure of the poor on health.

“The allocation for health sector has been enhanced some three times in the 12th Five Year Plan as compared with the 11th Plan allocation,” he said speaking at the foundation stone laying function of the redevelopment project of Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi on Saturday.

Besides, as factors such as nutrition, safe drinking water, sanitation, housing and education, particularly education of girl child, are increasingly being underlined as the social determinants of health, he said the government is laying great emphasis on their importance by providing adequate thrust to these sectors in the Plan Period.

The Prime Minister also said a major urban health initiative will be launched during the Plan Period to focus on specific health issues of urban poor and called for better synergy and coordination between different ministries for best results.

Singh underlined the need for improving the volume and the quality of faculty in medical institutions in the country, observing that availability of trained human resources in the health sector remains a challenge.

“We need to set up more nursing and medical colleges to increase both undergraduate and postgraduate seats in the 12th Plan. We also need to pay much greater attention to improving the volume and the quality of faculty in medical institutions in our country,” he said.