However, the state has been given a clean chit as far as its performance in areas of population control, immunisation, leprosy control, and checking the incidence of cataract.

Speaking at the two-day conference of health ministers of western India, which began here today, Ezhilmalai, however, said that the region, including Gujarat, should keep an eye on the malaria menace, which finds a breeding ground in areas with uncontrolled urbanisation and large population movement. Of late, the region is not doing well in the routine immunisation like measles, DPT, and OPV, the minister pointed out.

While the minister praised the performance of Gujarat and Goa for slashing annual exponential growth rate of population, he pointed out that Rajasthan, Diu & Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli register a high crude death rate (CDR). Madhya Pradesh, he said, also tops in the infant mortality rate (IMR).

However, the minister said that the national health policy, formed one and a half decade back, needs a re-think, as advances in the health sector had necessitated new priorities. The conference would help formulate a revised National Health Policy, he said. He also called for emphasis on blood donation, training of all categories of health workers, treatment of HIV-related illnesses without stigma and discrimination, registration of state AIDS societies for a speedy flow of funds to the states and district units.

Tuberculosis was a major problem in western states and about 9.03 lakh cases of TB are detected and put on treatment every year under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, he said. The threat of HIV-TB co-infection and the emergence of drug resistance had a sense of urgency necessitating vigorous implementation of the TB programmes. The funding pattern of TB drugs to the states has now been changed from 50:50 to 100 per cent central funding.

The union minister said that the recently conducted national sentinel surveillance report indicates that HIV prevalence among STD clinic attenders is as high as 26.8 per cent in Maharashtra, 15.7 per cent in Goa and 12.3 per cent in Gujarat.

It reflects not only the rising trend of infection of low-risk groups like mothers attending ante-natal clinics. The rates are highest in Maharashtra (2.4 per cent), followed by Goa (0.68 per cent) and Gujarat (0.52 per cent). Thus there is a need for expeditious and concerted efforts to slow down the transmission of HIV infection in high-risk groups as well as in general population. He said that primary health care infrastructure continued to be a weak link in the health care delivery system of the western region.

The conference was inaugurated by Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel. Besides, State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, his Maharashtra counterpart Dr Daulat Rao Ahir also attended the function. Health Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Goa were absent.