The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has emphasized on the need to craft a high quality national health system that is used by the poor and rich alike. He was addressing the 40th Annual Convocation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 16, 2012 in New Delhi.

The President expressed deep concern about the impoverishing impact of health and medical expenses on the vulnerable sections of our society. He said it is unacceptable that almost 80% of the expenditure on healthcare by our people is met by personal, out of pocket, payment. As many as four crore people plunge into poverty each year due to expenses on medical treatment.

The President said we should remember that the health services for the poor cannot be poor health services. Progress in the health sector is key to India's future place of prominence in the world. The nation's productivity depends on the health and well-being of its citizens. Economic growth that does not go hand in hand with reduction in avoidable mortality and ill health is neither sustainable nor desirable.

The President called upon AIIMS to lead India to the frontiers of innovative solutions in health care, discovering new cures, harnessing existing and emerging technologies for affordable healthcare, and exploring new paradigms for preventing disease and creating wellness. He said AIIMS should be a power house of biomedical research and a role model for others. AIIMS must rise to be one of the 10 best medical universities in the world by the year 2020.

This release issued at 1510 hrs