Education, health sector given priorities in 12th plan

As the Centre wanted to make healthcare accessible and affordable to poor, more allocation was given to the sector in the 12th five year plan as DST, with the assistance of private players, could produce cheaper drugs and equipment, T Ramasami, Secretary, DST, Delhi, said.

Similarly priority was also given to the education sector, he said, addressing after inaugurating the Regional Science Congress on 'Science for Shaping the future of India" here.

On DST's role in providing cheaper healthcare, he said it had helped to bring down prices of hepatitis vaccine, as it started to produce the vaccine with the assistance of a private player in Hyderabad.

Similarly, heart valves manufactured by a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, which was cheaper and affordable to poor patients, was also assisted by the department, he said.