The government has kept its promise of increasing resources for the public health system. However, its commitment falls far too short of meeting the needs of over a billion people. With the 22% increase in health spend at Rs. 12,546 crore and reliance on traditional medicine, the government will try to fight diseases such as AIDS, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, cancer and blindness that are emerging as big threats to the country’s human resources.

The rural health mission (RHM), that has received Rs 8,207 crore for 2006-07, will focus on the North-East, hill states and other northern states where health indices are too low: Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Orissa and Rajasthan. The mission will employ 2.5 lakh accredited social health activists to take healthcare services to more people in rural areas.

(The Economic Times)