Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that the government is committed to control communicable diseases which pose a major public health challenge for India .

An official release said that speaking at the meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to his Ministry on Wednesday, Mr. Azad said, the 12th Five Year Plan aims to address several public health challenges.

These include ensuring primary health care to all including urban slum population, strengthening of health care infrastructure as per Indian Public Health Standards and increasing public health work-force among others.

Mr. Azad, however, informed the Members that note-worthy successes during 11th Plan period have been achieved to control communicable diseases.

Mr. Azad informed that a Group of Ministers has already been constituted to adopt a multi sectoral approach for controlling Japanese Encephalitis.