India bats for equitable access to medical countermeasures at Geneva summit
NEW DELHI: Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Wednesday reiterated India's strong support for a legal, binding framework that enhances global cooperation while respecting national sovereignty and capacities.
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'The pandemic agreement must ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures, timely and transparent data and pathogen sharing; and promote technology sharing and capacity building, particularly for the Global South,' she said, while addressing the plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly.
Srivastava concluded her address by congratulating the WHO and member states on the historic progress made toward advancing the Pandemic Treaty, which aims to confront future health challenges together with a commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Director-general of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for virtually joining the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly that adopted the Pandemic Agreement.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) member states on Tuesday unanimously adopted the world's first Pandemic Agreement in a move to bolster global collaboration and ensure a stronger and more equitable response to future pandemics.
'Namaste, Prime Minister @narendramodi, for joining us virtually at a historic #WHA78 when the #PandemicAccord was adopted. We are grateful for #India's commitment and support to @WHO,' Tedros posted on X.
In his video message during Tuesday's session, Modi said that the future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, an integrated vision and collaboration.
He asserted that India's approach offers replicable, scalable and sustainable models to meet health challenges of the Global South and also highlighted how this year's theme of 'One World for Health' aligns with India's vision for global health.
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