Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, emphasizing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for collective efforts to strengthen global health systems. In his video message to the assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland, PM Modi highlighted the gaps in the global health architecture exposed by the pandemic and stressed the importance of building resilience.
PM Modi also underscored the significance of global health equity, noting that India has demonstrated its commitment to international cooperation by supplying nearly 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to over 100 countries, many of which were from the Global South. He expressed his belief that promoting equal access to resources should be a top priority for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the years ahead.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s efforts in recent years to enhance the availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare. He emphasized that India’s approach, which takes into account the vast diversity of the country, can serve as a framework for other nations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. PM Modi mentioned initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme, the expansion of health infrastructure, and the provision of sanitation and drinking water to millions of families, all aimed at improving health at the grassroots level.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of holistic health, drawing attention to India’s traditional systems such as yoga, Ayurveda, and meditation, which address the physical, mental, and social aspects of well-being. He expressed satisfaction that the WHO’s first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established in India, and he welcomed the recognition of the significance of millets through the International Year of Millets.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s belief in seeing the world as one family, rooted in the teachings of the country’s ancient scriptures. Under India’s G20 Presidency this year, the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future” is being pursued, reflecting the vision for good health as “One Earth, One Health.” PM Modi emphasized that a healthy human population depends on the health of the entire ecosystem, encompassing animals, plants, and the environment.
PM Modi’s address at the World Health Assembly emphasized the need for collective action to address the gaps in the global health architecture exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted India’s commitment to international cooperation, its efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility, and its focus on holistic health.
The Prime Minister reiterated India’s vision of a united global family and the interconnectedness of human health with the well-being of the entire ecosystem.