The Centre will provide generic medicines free of cost to people through government hospitals. Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the redevelopment project of Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi this morning, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, the health sector has made considerable progress in the recent years.

He said, the latest Sample Registration System findings have shown that India’s Infant Mortality Rate has declined by a further three points during last year. Terming it as good news Dr. Singh said, efforts to further bring down the IMR will continue with renewed energy and focus. Dr. Singh also recalled India's achievement in eradicating polio.

The Prime minister said, a major urban health initiative will be launched in the 12th Five Year Plan in order to focus on the specific health issues of the urban poor.

Dr. Singh said, recognizing the need to provide for the complex challenges in the health sector, the allocation for health has been enhanced three times in the 12th Plan as compared to 11th Plan allocation.

In addition, factors such as nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, housing and education, particularly of the girl child, are increasingly being underlined as the social determinants of health.

Dr. Singh said, the government is devoting greater attention to medical education. He said, from one All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, the country now have six such institutions of excellence that have come up in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh.

Dr. Singh said, he was happy that in the last three years, the number of MBBS seats in medical colleges has increased by over 30% and the post graduate seats have gone up by 51%.

As many as 61 new medical colleges have been added, raising the total number of such institutions in the country to 362. In addition, 269 new nursing schools have been sanctioned, mostly in remote, inaccessible and under-served districts. This will go a long way in overcoming the shortage of nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives.

The Prime minister also appealed to all doctors, nurses and technical personnel to work relentlessly and sincerely in providing adequate, affordable, sensitive and quality healthcare to the people of India.