New Delhi, Nov. 6 Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday underlined the need for higher investment in health sector.

Azad said that the present health care system put a heavy burden on poor people who had to incur substantial out-of-pocket expenses for their treatment.

Chairing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Health Ministry, Azad said the National Rural Health Mission has made serious effort to address decentralisation, shortage of human resources, infrastructure gaps and new construction.

Azad also listed the reforms in the Medical Education sector to increase the number of post graduate seats and to also simplify and rationalize the process of setting up of new medical colleges in deficient States and regions.

"Many old rules regarding availability of land, case load etc. have been modified to enable a faster expansion of medical graduate and post graduate education without compromising on quality in any manner. These steps will increase the intake at Post Graduate level from the existing 13000 to 18000 seats," he said.

Talking about National AIDS Control Programme, Azad said an estimated population of 23 lakhs are HIV infected.

"The NACP -III aims at halting and reversing the trend of the epidemic in the country over the next five years. The programme will continue to attempt to address preventing new infections by focusing on the High Risk Groups and simultaneously implementing an intensive care, support and treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS," he said. (ANI)