New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam on March 8 advocated the cause of healthcare for the poor in India, saying it was time the cost of diagnostics and treatment comes down.

Addressing the 32nd annual convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, Kalam said in this direction, AIIMS should have centres in semi-urban areas, which should be linked to the institute.

"Time has come that the cost of diagnostics and treatment should come down," Kalam said adding the lowering of cost for treatment and diagnostics would allow the poor to avail of the latest technologies for healthcare.

"There are two major issues. First we have to augment our primary healthcare system in a big way, empower our secondary healthcare system and integrate both with the tertiary care centres," he said.

"Second, we should see how advancement in technology could be put to use to improve the healthcare system of the country," he said adding these two efforts would make modern medicine available and accessible to all the people in the country.

It would contribute to nation's progress, as strong body and sound mind of the citizens are essential for development, he said.

Health Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was also present on the occasion, later told reporters the government was already considering proposals to set up six AIIMS centres in the country.

"We are working in this direction," she said.

PTI