India has sought larger share of global funds to fight diseases like AIDS and TB. The country would be presenting its proposal for HIV / AIDS and TB funds before the funding agencies within two weeks, stated a government press release.

The release said that the Union Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha had appealed for a larger share of global funds for India at a meeting of Health Ministers' of South East Asia Region Organisation (SEARO) organised by World Health Organisation (WHO) in Jakarta on September 9, 2002.

The meeting deliberated at length on the need for more Global Funds for AIDS. The need for a regional mechanism for bulk purchase of selected quality essential drugs was also highlighted.

The minister emphasised the importance of availability of cost effective quality drugs for improving the health of the people in developing countries. The WHO Medicine Strategy involves improvement of access to essential drugs and medicines.

Sinha requested SEARO to continue giving technical support for implementing this strategy.

The Minister also co-chaired the third session on Report of Commission of Macro-economics and Health along with the Indonesian counterpart. This was 20th meeting of the Health Minister's of SEARO, the release said.