India Champions Global Health Equity at 78th World Health Assembly at Geneva

Image Source: Current Affairs - Adda247

At the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, India reiterated its pledge to driving global health equity and universal health coverage. Led by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India presented its national healthcare success stories and advocated for intensified global partnership, particularly for the Global South, under the banner "One World for Health".

Ayushman Bharat and Universal Health Coverage

India promoted the revolutionary role of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which has:

Drastically increased access to inclusive health care.
Enhanced health infrastructure across the country.
Offered financial protection for sophisticated treatments.
Fostered increased adoption of digital health, including telemedicine and digital health IDs.

Health protection under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been made available to all citizens aged more than 70 years irrespective of economic conditions.

India's Health Achievements Recognition

India's achievement in maternal well-being, family planning, and mortality reduction of children and women during childbirth has been applauded by international organizations like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Inter-Agency Group.
India was recently declared Trachoma-Free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Elimination of Communicable Diseases

India rededicated itself to the elimination of a number of communicable diseases, including:

Tuberculosis (TB)
Leprosy
Lymphatic Filariasis
Measles and Rubella
Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis).

Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure and Workforce

The number of medical colleges in India has doubled from 387 to 780 in the past decade, significantly expanding the nation’s capacity to train healthcare professionals.

Advocacy for a Global Pandemic Agreement

India called for a legally binding global pandemic agreement that:
Ensures equitable access to vaccines, medicines, and medical countermeasures.
Promotes transparent data and pathogen sharing.
Encourages technology transfer and capacity building, especially for the Global South.
Respects national sovereignty and individual country capacities.
India applauded the WHO and member states for moving the Pandemic Treaty forward, highlighting the imperative of international solidarity in meeting future health threats.

Solidarity with the Global South

India took up the role as a vocal champion of developing countries, exchanging best practices and backing replicable, sustainable models of healthcare for the Global South.

Promotion of Holistic Health

Prime Minister Modi emphasized work like Jan Aushadhi Kendras (public pharmacies offering affordable medicines) and the international popularization of yoga for global and individual health.

Sources: The Indian Awaaz, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Babushahi, Adda247 Current Affairs, Ommcom News, NewsOnAir, DD News