India ensured a pre-emptive, proactive and graded response to the pandemic, he said

India has ensured the supply of medicines to 123 partner countries, including 59 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) nations, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

India managed to ensure this despite its own needs, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. He maintained that this was an example of India's commitment to the health of all.

He was participating in a meeting with Ministers of Health of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) countries. Director-General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was also present in the meeting.

Expressing concern over the current pandemic, the Indian Health Minister stressed the need for an aggressive roadmap to curtail deaths from diseases that can be eliminated.

He explained how India overcame the challenges of the ongoing pandemic with the highest level of political commitment. “We ensured a pre-emptive, proactive and graded response to the pandemic" he said.

"We need a fresh roadmap to address shortages of medicines and vaccines. Our motto should always be to protect the health of those without wealth. I’m sure you all share the same sentiment,” he added.

Speaking about India’s ambitious National Health Policy that aims at Universal Health for All, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Our flagship health initiative called Ayushman Bharat aims at providing free health assurance to over 500 million underprivileged people, making it the world’s largest health assurance scheme".

Harsh Vardhan emphasized that India was committed to working with all NAM Member States for the efficient, effective and responsive discharge of public health obligations.