India Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Health Cooperation at WHO South-East Asia Session

New Delhi: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships and contributing to collective efforts to build stronger, more resilient and equitable health systems.

Mr Nadda made the remarks while addressing the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Dili, Timor-Leste, through virtual participation.

The Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has continued to strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to quality health services and take focused measures against both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He said the government is also adopting innovative and flexible approaches to improve the availability and retention of specialist healthcare professionals in difficult areas. These measures include competitive remuneration, difficult-area allowances, insourcing of speciality services, performance-based incentives and fixed-tenure postings.

Mr Nadda also highlighted the use of technology to overcome geographical barriers in healthcare. Platforms such as eSanjeevani are being used to facilitate teleconsultations, referrals and continuity of care, particularly for people living in remote and rural areas.

India Receives Two WHO Regional Awards

India received two WHO South-East Asia Regional awards during the session. The recognition included India’s achievement in sustaining the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus over the past decade and its leadership in addressing non-communicable diseases through primary healthcare.

Mr Nadda said the recognition reflects not only government policies and programmes but also the contribution of the country’s healthcare workforce, particularly frontline health workers who provide essential services and work to extend healthcare access to people in remote and underserved areas.

Focus on Equitable Specialised Healthcare

The Health Minister also highlighted the adoption of the Dili Declaration on Human Resources for Health: Equity in Specialized Care.

According to Mr Nadda, the declaration is an important step towards ensuring that expansion of the health workforce contributes to equitable access to quality specialised healthcare, particularly for people living in hard-to-reach areas.

India reiterated its support for regional cooperation and collective action aimed at strengthening health systems and improving access to quality healthcare across the South-East Asia region.