According to a Planning Commission report, India faces a shortage of about 600,000 doctors, one million nurses, 200,000 dental surgeons and a large number of paramedical staff.

Keeping in mind the shortage of medical specialists, the ministry also plans to increase the seats for post graduation.

'It is expected that, without substantive additional resource and infrastructure requirement, the number of Post Graduate specialists would dramatically increase by almost 5,000 from the existing 13,000 to 18,000 within a short period of time,' he said.

The ministry plans to open new Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and General Nurse Midwives (GNMs) schools, especially in backward and unserved districts.

Azad said the government is committed to safeguard the credibility of Indian pharmaceutical products and for this they have amended the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Under the act, the maximum penalty has been raised to life imprisonment and fine of Rs.10 lakh or three times the value of confiscated goods (whichever is more).

'India has a global presence in drugs and pharmaceuticals and ranks 4th in volumes and 14th in value in the world. India produces drugs and pharmaceuticals to the tune of

Rs.85,000 crore, of which it exports are worth Rs.35,000 crore,' he said.

He said the ministry is planning to start annual surveys that will give yearly progress on the various health parameters like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Total Fertility Ratio (TFR).

'The prime minister had desired this annual health surveys,' he said, adding that it will be conducted in 284 districts of nine states by the Registrar General of India (RRI). 'We have sanctioned 109 posts and Rs.335 crore for the RRI to take up the survey during the period 2009-2012,' he added.