Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 14 (IANS): The public healthcare system in the country is being used only by less than 30 percent of the population because of lack of diagnostic systems and inadequate supply of drugs, Kerala health and family welfare secretary K. Ellangovan said Tuesday.

Ellangovan was inaugurating a training programme for selected healthcare professionals of the health ministry organised by HLL Lifecare Limited here.

He said the training programme is a timely one because public procurement in healthcare is facing many challenges, including the right assessment of the needs and making priorities.

Ellangovan also said there has been an eight percent increase in the number out-patients in public hospitals after the government made generic drugs available. "This shows the importance of effective procurement in the healthcare sector," he said.

R. Poornalingam, a former secretary to Government of India, said the procurement of drugs and equipment delivery plays a vital role in deciding the success of healthcare delivery in India, where the allocation are very poor, particularly in states such as Bihar.