World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised India’s progress in healthcare, highlighting gains in primary care, maternal and child health, immunisation and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Tedros made the remarks after meeting Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda during the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Dili, Timor-Leste. Their discussion covered India’s health achievements and its cooperation with the WHO.
“I met India’s Health Minister J.P. Nadda and congratulated him on the country’s impressive health gains, particularly in maternal and child health and the fight against noncommunicable diseases.”
A key focus was India’s Ayushman Arogya Mandir network. With around 160,000 centres, the programme has brought primary healthcare and screening services closer to communities. It includes screening for hypertension, diabetes and common cancers, along with referrals for people needing further treatment.
Tedros also pointed to the contribution of India’s ASHA workforce, which helps connect communities with essential health services and supports women, mothers and children.
“India’s ASHA workers are another powerful example of health care reaching people where they are, supporting mothers and children from conception through adolescence,” Tedros said.
Improved immunisation coverage and an increase in institutional deliveries, from 78 per cent to 93 per cent, were also cited as important contributors to better maternal and child health outcomes.
Tuberculosis elimination was another major topic during the meeting. India has been stepping up screening, diagnosis, treatment and other public health measures as part of its efforts to tackle the disease.
Nadda and Tedros also reviewed the need for stronger regulation of medical products to ensure their quality, safety and effectiveness. They discussed India’s wider partnership with the WHO on global health priorities, including traditional medicine.
The meeting also covered ongoing talks on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Tedros recognised India’s support for the WHO and its contribution to international health efforts.
The interaction took place as health ministers and representatives from countries across the WHO South-East Asia Region met in Dili for the regional committee’s 79th session.
The meeting underlined India’s growing role in healthcare, both through expanded services at home and its contribution to global health cooperation. The focus on primary care, disease prevention and community-based services remains central to the country’s health strategy.
(Photo courtesy: x.com/MoHFW_INDIA)