Former United States president Bill Clinton on Friday told Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that he was 'extremely impressed' with India's fight against Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.

Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said Clinton promised to help raise money from Canada, Ireland and Norway to help India combat the dreaded disease.

Briefing reporters on the 90-minute luncheon meeting between Clinton and Vajpayee at latter's Race Course Road residence, Swaraj said, "When the Clinton Foundation came to know that India had decided to induct the retro virus therapy in its fight against AIDS, it decided to hold talks with India."

"That is why the former US president sought a special appointment with the prime minister," Swaraj added.

"The most important thing which Clinton said was that the CB4 machines (through which AIDS test is done) could be procured (from South Africa) at a lower price and he would help out," she said

India, she added, had just 25 of these machines whereas 150 are needed.

She also pointed out that Clinton volunteered to have doctors from his foundation train their Indian counterpart in the use of CB4 machines.

In response to a question Swaraj clarified that India's fight against AIDS had started before the Clinton Foundation decided to get involved.

She said that India had been purchasing relevant medicines from Indian companies.

Pointing out that the (AIDS) medicine manufacturers and their associations had met her on November 17, she clarified that the agreement with the Clinton Foundation was separate during which the manufacturers reduced their prices from one dollar a day to 38 cents.

"But why should the Indian initiative stop at 38 cents, it can go down still further," she said. Clinton, she said, suggested that if additional costs like import duty was waived on AIDS medicines their price could be further cut.