Affordability of medicines key to better healthcare facilities

"The costs of medicines are considerably high in the country. There is a scope to rationalise and make them affordable to a wider section of the society," Jaitley said at a function here.

He was speaking after inaugurating speciality institutes at the Max Super Speciality Hospital in East Delhi focusing on areas of Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Renal Sciences, Cancer and Trauma care.

With better technology, the cost of treatment is also increasing making good healthcare facilities out of reach for many, he said, adding there is a need to further educate the people about health insurance which has been a slow moving process in India.

He believed private hospitals would play an essential role in public health system which is under immense pressure and is unable to give proper care that patients usually require.