PM Narendra Modi addressed the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) via videoconferencing, aligning India’s health priorities with this year’s theme, ‘One World for Health’. He emphasized the need for global cooperation, inclusivity, and an integrated approach to healthcare, reaffirming India’s commitment to building a healthier, more equitable world.
Highlighting the importance of collective responsibility, PM Modi stated, “The future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, integrated vision, and collaboration.” He showcased India’s health reforms, notably Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme covering 580 million people, recently expanded to include all citizens over the age of 70.
Underscoring the role of technology in expanding access, the Prime Minister detailed India’s digital health identity system and telemedicine services, which have facilitated over 340 million consultations—ensuring that, as he noted, “no one is too far from a doctor.”
Focusing on the needs of the Global South, PM Modi stressed that “the health of the world depends on how well we care for the most vulnerable.” He emphasized that India’s health initiatives offer replicable, scalable, and sustainable solutions and expressed India’s willingness to share its experience with developing nations.
Looking ahead to the 11th International Day of Yoga in June, he invited global participation and announced the theme, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, reaffirming Yoga’s role as a unifying force for physical and mental well-being.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the successful negotiation of the INB pandemic treaty, commending the World Health Organization and its member states for strengthening global health preparedness. Concluding his address, PM Modi invoked a Vedic prayer for universal health and harmony, urging the world to move forward unitedly, ensuring no one is left behind.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
