New Delhi [India], May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) virtually from New Delhi on Tuesday, spotlighting India’s significant contributions to global health under the theme “One World for Health.”
PM Modi detailed India’s flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world’s largest health insurance program, which currently covers 580 million people and offers free treatment. Recently, this program was extended to include all Indians over the age of 70.
He stressed three core pillars for the future of global health: inclusion, integrated vision, and collaboration.
“The future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, integrated vision and collaboration. Inclusion is at the core of India’s health reforms,” PM Modi said.
He also emphasized India’s extensive network of health and wellness centres that screen for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, along with thousands of public pharmacies that provide affordable, high-quality medicines well below market prices.
Highlighting India’s digital health initiatives, PM Modi noted the country’s platform for tracking vaccinations of pregnant women and children and a telemedicine service that has facilitated over 340 million consultations, ensuring healthcare access even in remote areas.
Inviting global participation in the upcoming 11th International Day of Yoga in June, PM Modi shared the theme, “Yoga for One Earth One Health,” extending an invitation to all countries to join the celebrations.
Congratulating the WHO and member states on the successful negotiations of the INB Pandemic Treaty, aimed at enhancing cooperation for future pandemic preparedness, he said:
“It is a shared commitment to fight future pandemics with greater cooperation while building a healthy planet. Let us ensure that no one is left behind.”
PM Modi also offered to share India’s learnings and best practices with the Global South to help tackle health challenges with scalable and sustainable solutions.
He highlighted that India’s initiatives have significantly reduced out-of-pocket health expenditure for its citizens while increasing government spending on healthcare.
He concluded his speech with a verse from the Vedas, invoking universal well-being:
“Sarwey bhawantu sukhin sarwey santu niramaya. Sarwey bhadrani pasyantu maa kashichit dukhbhag bahavate”
(May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer).
Achievement Recognized:
Following the session, Union Health Minister JP Nadda celebrated India’s recognition by the WHO for eliminating Trachoma as a public health problem.
In a post on X, Nadda said:
“A proud moment for the nation at WHA78. India has been conferred the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.”
This milestone marks a significant public health achievement for India, reflecting the country’s growing leadership in combating infectious diseases on the global stage.