The Hindu Business Line : Charitable institutes must help bridge health gap, says PM

THE nation stands at a "peculiar" crossroad between diseases of the past and new-age illnesses, said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, here on Saturday.

Calling on healthcare providers to device innovative ways to meet this challenge, he urged community and charitable institutions to play a proactive role and help bridge the health gap.

Dr Singh was speaking at the inauguration of the 259-bed multi-speciality Saifee Hospital in South Mumbai. The estimated Rs 150-crore hospital has been funded by international contributions from the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Reiterating his Government's commitment to healthcare, Dr Singh said the country was burdened by diseases of the past such as tuberculosis and malaria, besides new-age lifestyle ailments such as diabetes and cancer.

While the role of the private sector is inevitable in a diverse country such as India, Dr Singh said there is scope for involving charitable organisations as well. Specialist hospitals must meet the needs of all segments of society. Healthcare must be provided to those who need it and not merely those who can afford it, he said.

The event coincided with the 94th birthday of the spiritual head of the Bohra community, Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.

The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, in a message to the organisers, welcomed the fact that 44 beds in the hospital would be free of cost for people from difficult economic backgrounds.

The audience included politicians, film stars and corporates.

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