The COVID-19 pandemic, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has shown numerous weaknesses in the global health infrastructure. He also underlined that concerted action is required to create resilience in global systems.
While India demonstrated its commitment to international cooperation by sending nearly 300 million vaccine doses to more than 100 countries, Modi said the pandemic also highlighted the need to improve global health equity in his video message to the 76th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Many of these countries were from the Global South. I am sure that supporting equal access to resources will be a top priority for the WHO in the coming years,” he said.
Modi stated that during the past five years, India has strived to improve the availability, usability, and affordability of healthcare. An approach that takes into account the scope of India’s diversity can also serve as a model for others, he said. We are eager to help the WHO with similar initiatives in low- and middle-income nations.
The prime minister stated that many of India’s efforts are geared at improving health at the last mile, whether it is through the world’s largest health insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat, or the vast expansion of health facilities, or the drive to bring sanitation and drinking water to millions of people.
He added that ancient practises like yoga, ayurveda, and meditation address the physical, mental, and social facets of health. According to India’s traditional thinking, being free of illness does not equate to being in good health.
He expressed his happiness that India would soon be home to the first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine of the WHO. The International Year of Millets is another thing that makes me pleased because it shows how important millets are to the world. Modi emphasised that the globe is viewed as a single family in India’s ancient scriptures.
“During our G20 Presidency this year, we are working with the theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. Our vision for good health is ‘One Earth One Health’. We can be healthy only when our whole ecosystem is healthy. So, our vision is not restricted to just humans. It extends to the entire ecosystem, including animals, plants and the environment,” he said.