New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): The health ministry will rope in private and semi-government firms to improve basic health care, union Health Secretary Lov Verma said here Tuesday.

"The role of private and semi government firms has become very important to reach out to people in far off places and provide them health care services. The health ministry will approach the private and semi government firms for funding," he said.

Verma was speaking at a discussion on Universal Health Assurance for India organised by Public health Foundation of India (PHFI).

He emphasised that the ministry is trying to invest more in health insurance sector.

"Insurance has been one of the toughest call for the government. Till now only 1.4 percent of the GDP was invested in the health insurance sector. But this will soon be a priority for the government," he said.

"Even the Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) will be transferred from the labour ministry to the health ministry," he added.

Verma said that to make the citizens more aware, the health ministry has formed courses on public health and have submitted it to the Medical Council of India for its approval (MCI).

"The public-private partnership will be emphasised on every health care programme for the citizens in the country," he said.