Union Health Minister JP Nadda addressed the inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, highlighting India’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage through Ayushman Bharat, strengthened public health infrastructure and digital healthcare initiatives.
In a post on X, Nadda said, “Addressed the historic First BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, reaffirming India’s commitment to building a healthier, safer and more resilient Bay of Bengal region.”
Emphasising regional cooperation, he called for stronger collaboration in health security, pandemic preparedness, One Health and traditional medicine. He also highlighted India’s healthcare initiatives under Ayushman Bharat, digital health and eSanjeevani, expressing readiness to share expertise and best practices with BIMSTEC member nations.
Nadda further highlighted India’s commitment to hosting the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar, Gujarat, to promote joint research, capacity building and knowledge exchange.
“India is proud to host the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar, fostering joint research, capacity building and knowledge exchange,” he stated.
Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, India remains committed to building a healthier, inclusive and resilient BIMSTEC region through accessible and affordable healthcare, ensuring no country is left behind.
The minister’s visit followed his arrival in Colombo on Tuesday, where he was received by India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
Before the meeting, Nadda expressed his intention to engage with counterparts from BIMSTEC member nations to strengthen regional health cooperation, advance shared public health priorities and foster greater collaboration in healthcare. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the visit marks an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation, addressing shared public health goals and deepening healthcare partnerships between India, Sri Lanka and other BIMSTEC members.
The ministerial deliberations followed the commencement of the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Health in Colombo on Tuesday, which laid the groundwork for the discussions.
