70 institutes to be set up for treating cancer, diabetes: Azad

The Central government has approved a plan to set up 70 medical facilities for treating cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said today.
"There will be an increase in the number of patients suffering from cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in next 15 years.
"To deal with such diseases, we have formulated a policy to set up hospitals and cancer institutes," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
"The Cabinet has approved a plan to set up 70 medical facilities," he said.
"There is no cancer institute in the government sector. Only the Tatas has one institute," Azad said.

"There is a huge shortage of human resources in the country and it is the highest in the world," he said.

"We were first to bring in changes in the MCI Act, introduced in 1965, and its rules which resulted in increase of 75 per cent doctors in speciality and super-speciality fields (MD seats)," he said.
Azad said six new super-speciality hospitals on the lines of AIIMS were being set up in the country apart from upgradation of some hospitals to super-speciality facilities.
Regarding the policy to provide medicare to new-born, he said 27 crore children would be benefited under this scheme.