``The target of achieving health for all by the beginning of the next century will remain a distant dream unless health care expenditure is raised by at least six per cent of the GDP, against the existing three per cent, as per the recommendations of the World Health Oranisation (WHO),'' IMA general secretary Dr Prem Aggarwal told the mediapersons here today.

The increased outlay could be spent on ensuring regular supply of medicines and consumables to the existing medical facilities, on upgrading equipment and on creating additional facilities under the public health care delivery system, Dr Aggarwal said. In addition, all investments in health care (including the super-speciality facilities) in any part of the country should be given priority incentives such as tax exemptions.

The private healthcare sector was of the view that there was ``a need to establish support systems by which a person in need of medical treatment can meet its high costs.'' While opening up of the health care sector to provide self-sustaining, consumer-friendly insurance schemes to all sections of the society could be good step in that direction, introducing the schemes like `Medisave' could also help people save for medical exigencies.