The Prime Minister has directed the setting up of a Task Force on Planning for Human Resources for Health Services.

There is a huge gap in the Human Resources (Doctors, nurses, lab technicians) in the health sector in India. This has been highlighted by the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health in its report. There are also growing opportunities with India emerging as a major international centre for low cost health care. The fact that India is demographically a young nation gives it an opportunity to have its trained personnel meeting the health care needs of the demographically aging countries.

The PM has requested the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to set up a Task Force that would have representatives from the Union Ministry of Health and Ministries of Health of selected states and professional experts. The Task Force will map the gaps in the Health sector and identify new opportunities and submit a Human Development Plan for the Indian Health Sector.