Gandhinagar: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has lauded India's strides in healthcare coverage and initiatives, specifically praising the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
He expressed his appreciation during the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing G20 Health Ministers' Meeting held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Dr Tedros commenced his address by extending gratitude to India for its warm hospitality and visionary leadership in hosting the G20 Summit. He said, "I commend India for their steps in advancing Universal Health Coverage and the Ayushman Bharat scheme which is the world's largest health assurance initiative."
During his speech, he also recalled his visit to a Health and Wellness Centre in Gandhinagar and commended the primary healthcare services offered to 1000 households through the centre. "I visited a Health and Wellness Centre here in Gandhinagar and was impressed by the primary healthcare services being provided to 1000 households by the HWC."
Dr Tedros further acknowledged the telemedicine facilities in Gujarat and expressed gratitude to India's G20 Presidency for spearheading the Global Digital Health Initiative, set to be launched shortly. "I commend the telemedicine services being provided here, which provide prescriptions and treatment locally. It is an excellent example of transforming healthcare. I also thank India's G20 Presidency for taking leadership in the Global Digital Health Initiative which will be launched tomorrow," he said.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared that over 70 delegates from various countries participated in the G20 Health Ministers' meeting and accompanying side events in Gandhinagar. He emphasised that India's health model was being showcased and well-received, attributing this achievement to the comprehensive approach of the Modi government towards the health sector.
The G20 Health Ministers' Meeting, organised under G20 India Presidency, is scheduled from August 17 to 19 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. India's leadership in the G20 Troika, consisting of Indonesia, India, and Brazil, has marked a historic alliance of three developing and emerging economies in this role.
The summit is centred around three key priorities. The first comprises health emergency prevention, preparedness, and response with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and the One Health framework. The second priority focuses on enhancing collaboration within the pharmaceutical sector, specifically concerning access to safe, effective, high-quality, and affordable medical countermeasures like vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
The third priority underscores the promotion of digital health innovations and solutions, aiming to facilitate universal health coverage and elevate the quality of healthcare service delivery. The meeting seeks to address critical global health challenges by concentrating on these crucial areas.