Covid Pandemic Highlighted Gaps In Global Health Architecture: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the gaps in the global health architecture which were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic while emphasising the need for a collective effort in building resilient global systems.

He pointed out India's commitment to international cooperation and informed that the country shipped almost 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 100 countries including many countries from the Global South. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that supporting equal access to resources will be a top priority for the WHO in the coming years, a statement from his office said.

"India's traditional wisdom says that the absence of illness is not the same as good health", the Prime Minister said as he noted that one must not only be free from ailments but also take a step towards wellness.

Highlighting the benefits of traditional systems such as Yoga, Ayurveda and meditation, he explained that it addresses physical, mental and social aspects of health and expressed delight that WHO's first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established in India. He also expressed happiness that the International Year of Millets is playing a crucial role in creating awareness about the importance of millets.

"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", the Prime Minister said as he mentioned the ancient scriptures from India that teach us to see the world as one family. He touched upon the G20 theme of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' and said that India's vision for good health is 'One Earth One Health', the press release from his office stated. He emphasised that India's vision is not restricted to just humans, but extends to the entire ecosystem including animals, plants and the environment. He said that We can be healthy only when our whole ecosystem is healthy.

Highlighting India's achievements in the last few years regarding the availability, accessibility and affordability of healthcare, the Prime Minister gave examples of the world's largest health insurance scheme - Ayushman Bharat, the massive ramping up of health infrastructure, and the drive to provide sanitation and drinking water to millions of families in the country.

Underlining that many of India's efforts are aimed at boosting health at the last mile in the country, PM Modi suggested that an approach which works with the scale of India's diversity can also become a framework for other nations. Shri Modi expressed keenness in supporting the WHO for similar efforts in low and middle-income countries.

He also commended the WHO on 75 years of efforts in advancing Health for All. He remarked that the role of global institutions like the WHO will be even more important for the challenges that lie ahead in the future. "India is committed to helping every effort to build a healthier world", the Prime Minister concluded.