At the valedictory function of a seminar on ‘Current advances in life sciences' at the SRM dental college hospital, Mr Fenandes said when the ministry had to recruit eighty specialist doctors for the ESI hospitals, there were only eight qualified doctors for the job. "We had to start recruiting all over again. The situation is no different in other countries. I am told that with the people living longer in European countries like Germany and Portugal, more doctors are needed for treating people," he said. The minister told students that 37 percent of the doctors, practicing in the United States, were from India. There is also a great need for nurses from India. US officials estimate they would need around one million nurses to take care of their ageing population.
Fr Xavier Arulraj, chairman of Tamil Nadu Economic Minorities Development Corporation Limited, announced that as many as 399 Christians and 366 Muslims, entering professional courses would receive their scholarships this year. He also said next year there were plans to introduce educational loans at a low interest rate of 3 per cent for poor students from minority communities.