India Ready to Share Health Best Practices with Global South: Narendra Modi at World Health Assembly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, emphasized India’s commitment to global health and its significant contributions to global health initiatives. Speaking via videoconference, Modi noted that this year's theme, 'One World for Health,' aligns with India's vision of fostering global health unity and cooperation.

One of the key highlights of Modi's speech was India’s landmark health initiative, Ayushman Bharat, which provides free healthcare to 580 million people. The program, recently expanded to include citizens aged 70 and above, aims to ensure that no one is excluded from essential health services. Modi explained that Ayushman Bharat helps integrate insurance, medical records, and benefits, facilitating access to healthcare. He also highlighted the impact of telemedicine, which has enabled over 340 million consultations, ensuring that healthcare is never out of reach for those in need.

Modi further emphasized that the health of the world hinges on how well we care for the most vulnerable populations, particularly in the Global South, which faces greater health challenges. He invited the international community to learn from India’s scalable, sustainable health models and share best practices to tackle these global health issues.

In addition, PM Modi extended an invitation to all nations to participate in the 11th International Day of Yoga in June, promoting the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health.' He also congratulated the World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states on successfully negotiating the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) treaty, which aims to improve pandemic preparedness.

While acknowledging the adoption of a global pandemic agreement, PM noted the uncertainty surrounding its future, particularly with the United States’ withdrawal from the WHO. He also praised India’s extensive network of health and wellness centers, which support early detection of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. Modi also highlighted India’s technological advancements in healthcare, including a digital platform tracking vaccinations and a unique health identity system.