India
India to raise health expenditure to two to three per cent of GDP
By PIB, India
Apr 8, 2005, 03:35

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss today reiterated the UPA Government�s commitment to improving health care and raising health expenditure to two to three per cent of GDP in the next five years. He said care for mothers and children is an important component of the government�s healthcare programme. The Minister was speaking at the inaugural of a high level panel discussion on approaches in raising maternal new born and child health on the Global Agenda.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mrs. Panabaka Lakshmi hoped that the partnership meeting will put forth a concrete plan of action to take adequate care of women and children. �The task before us is to work together so that the 10th Plan and the millennium development goals for women and children are undoubtedly achieved.

The WHO Chief, Dr. Lee Jong-Wook said that shortage of trained staff and resource constraint was a problem for ensuring health standards for women and children in many countries. The Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Carol Bellamy termed the partnership as a chance to challenge the unfortunate situation of many women and children dying needlessly.

The opening ceremony aptly titled �Lives in the Balance� focused on building partnerships for improving maternal and child health. Today�s inaugural session was attended by the Minister of Health from a dozen countries around the world as well as representatives of International agencies, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders.

The partnership meeting will continue till the 9th of April, 2005 and is expected to result in a landmark proclamation, �The Delhi Declaration on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health� which will be presented to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi at a valedictory function in New Delhi on Saturday.

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