The agreement marks another milestone in robust COVID-19 related cooperation and coordination between India and Nepal

In a significant step towards easing travel for fully COVID-19 vaccinated people of Nepal and India, New Delhi and Kathmandu on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for reciprocal recognition of COVID vaccination certificate.

India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population signed Memorandum of Understanding for reciprocal recognition of COVID vaccination certificate, said a statement of the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

This MoU marks another milestone in robust COVID-19 related cooperation and coordination between India and Nepal, the statement added.

Since the start of the pandemic, India has provided around US $ 6.5 million worth of grant assistance to Nepal, through supply of essential medicines, RT-PCR tests, ventilators, and essential medicines.

Nepal was one of the first countries to receive 1 million doses of Covishield vaccines from India in January this year as grant.

Besides this, the Indian Army has also supplied 1 lakh doses of vaccines to the Nepal Army as grant and medical supplies including BIPAP machines, antigen kits, PPE, Masks, Ambulances and ICU beds.

India and Nepal have a robust cooperation in the health sector, that includes supply of ambulances, regular training and capacity building programs in the health sector and development of health infrastructure including major hospitals, trauma & maternity centres, naturopathy centres, and eye care centres.

As part of its commitment to Covid-19 cooperation with its neighbour, India in July had handed over 150 ICU beds to Nepal.

India in August had also handed over a medical oxygen plant to Nepal with a capacity of 960 litres per minute (LPM) that can serve 200 patients simultaneously.