New Delhi: The Union Health Secretary, Apurva Chandra, has addressed the Plenary Session of the 77th World Health Assembly of WHO in Geneva. In his address, he has emphasized on the theme of the Assembly, ‘All for Health, Health for All’, and highlighted the progress made by India in the healthcare sector, a PIB press release stated.
The Secretary said that the country is on the verge of eliminating Visceral Leishmaniasis disease, as well as reducing TB incidence and mortality. He also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which is the world’s largest health insurance scheme, providing healthcare services to more than 343 million beneficiaries. Due to the digital initiatives in healthcare, India has emerged as a lighthouse country in digital public goods for global collaborations, he said.
The Secretary also emphasised the importance of equitable access to medical supplies, noting that India has a contribution of 60% of the global output for vaccine supplies. India is committed to strengthening the drug regulatory system to ensure quick access to high-quality medical products to all, as per the WHO SPAR report. The Secretary also highlighted the ongoing efforts to build a global health architecture that will enable the collective preparation and response to future pandemics and public health emergencies.