The minister said the central government supports the states in reforming the state supported public health delivery system in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and combat communicable as well as non-communicable diseases effectively.

'However still, expenditure in health must go up considerably. The UPA government has tried to do so over the last five years, though much more remains to be done. Health is a state subject and state governments also need to raise public expenditure on health. It is only through a partnership of the central and the state governments that the objective of 2-3 percent GDP public expenditure can be achieved,' he said.

He said the reduction in maternal mortality ratio from 301 to 254, in infant mortality rate from 58 to 55 and reduction in TB and malaria cases in recent years are 'all indicators that we are on the right track of achieving better health outcome through strengthened primary care'.

'Institutional deliveries have increased from 40.9 percent (2002-04) to 47 percent (2007-08) and full immunization coverage of children up to 2 years has gone up from 45.9 percent (2002-04) to 54.1 percent (2007-08),' he revealed.

While urging the private sector to play a more constructive role, Azad said: 'Potential areas where private players can play a crucial role are provision of health services, disease control and surveillance, diagnostics and medicines, health manpower, capacity building including training and systems development, managerial service and auxiliary activities of the health sector.'