New Delhi: The Centre today (May 25, 2004) said the medical education system would be "revamped" to provide "quality health care" to the country's rural population.

"The medical education system needs to be revamped with focus on the rural health care system. Nearly 80 per cent of the country's population lives in rural areas and nothing is reaching to them," Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said after assuming office.

Pointing out that doctors would be "reoriented" to work in rural areas, 36-year old Ramadoss, who is the youngest member in the Union Cabinet, said that the Government would work to bring health care system at par with the developed countries.

"The aim is to provide health to all with same facilities being available to all beginning from the President to the poor farmers," he said.

The minister said that there would also be a review of policies related to health. "We will review the policies after consultation with Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and if they are good we will continue with them," he said.

Asserting that his medical qualification would help him perform the new job in a better manner, Ramadoss said that he would work to improve health care facilities for senior citizens.

Other priorities listed by the new minister include population control, fighting endemic and other diseases such as TB, AIDS, malaria and polio.

To a question on privatisation of health care, he said that it would be reviewed but the final decision would be taken by the Union Cabinet.