India’s scalable health model can benefit the global south, says PM Modi at World Health Assembly
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In a virtual address to the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's inclusive and integrated approach to healthcare can serve as a sustainable model for countries in the Global South.
His remarks came in alignment with this year’s theme, 'One World for Health,' which he noted resonates closely with India’s vision for global health equity.
Recalling his previous address at the 2023 Assembly where he introduced the concept of ‘One Earth, One Health’, PM Modi reiterated that the foundation of a healthier world lies in “inclusion, an integrated vision, and collaboration.”
He spotlighted the transformative impact of India’s flagship health initiative, Ayushman Bharat, describing it as “the world’s largest health insurance scheme,” providing free treatment to 580 million people. The program was recently expanded to include all citizens aged 70 and above.
Modi also spoke of India’s robust public healthcare network, which includes thousands of health and wellness centres that focus on early detection of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. Additionally, he acknowledged the critical role of public pharmacies in making quality medicines available at significantly reduced prices.
The Prime Minister emphasised the role of technology in transforming healthcare delivery. He referred to digital tools that track vaccinations for pregnant women and children and a unified digital health identity system that integrates health records, insurance, and services.
“With telemedicine, no one is too far from a doctor,” he said, pointing out that India’s free telemedicine platform has facilitated more than 340 million consultations so far.
He also noted a major shift in the country's healthcare spending patterns. “Out-of-pocket expenditure has reduced, while government health expenditure has seen a significant rise,” he said, adding that the health of the world ultimately depends on how well we care for its most vulnerable populations.
Addressing the disproportionate burden of health challenges faced by the Global South, Modi stated that “India's approach provides replicable, scalable, and sustainable models” and reiterated the country’s readiness to share its health solutions and best practices with other nations.
Ahead of the 11th International Day of Yoga in June, he encouraged global participation under the theme ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, emphasising India’s role as the birthplace of yoga.
He congratulated the World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states on reaching a consensus on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) treaty, which aims to strengthen international cooperation in preventing future pandemics. Modi hailed the treaty as a testament to a collective commitment to global health preparedness.
“The health of the world depends on how well we care for the most vulnerable,” he asserted once more, calling for a unified global vision to ensure no one is left behind.