Medicare services should be cost-effective: Kalam

Underlining the need for developing cost-effective Medicare services, former President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Monday all research should reach the masses in the form of medicines and vaccines.

"The challenge and aim of medical research should be to evolve cost effective cure for ailments like cancer, develop new generation vaccines for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis," Kalam said at the annual Research Showcase of Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University in Lucknow.

The Missile Man said that while rigorous research and integrating it on all levels is very important, the social context of it cannot be done away with.

"Take the case of polio virus. The medical fraternity should specialise in elimination of polio specially in Uttar Pradesh, which is very important. I want to see UP free from polio virus," he said.

Sharing his Vision for 2020, Kalam said that he visualises an India where rural and urban divide is reduced to a thin line, people get energy and quality water, all sectors work in coordination, best of health care is available and governance is transparent and free from corruption.

"I visualise India as the best place to live in," he said.

Kalam said that a great leader must have the passion to transform his vision into action.

"He must be ready to travel into unexplored areas and the most important thing is that he must know how to manage success and failures," he said.

"Most of the time scientists face failures, but don't let it defeat you," he said.

Referring to his interaction with medical scientists and experts of international repute, the former President said that research should reach the people in form of medicines and vaccines and meet the challenges of the present century.

"New vaccines against heart diseases and strokes should be developed and the doctors should work on these areas to prevent heart-related ailments," he said.

Image: APJ Abdul Kalam. | Photograph: Sondeep Shankar/Saab Pictures