India’s Approach Provides Sustainable Model to Meet Health Challenges of Global South: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting in the national capital to review progress in the tourism sector across the country. Later in the day, addressing the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva via videoconferencing, the Prime Minister said that the future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, integrated vision and collaboration. He said that India’s approach provides a sustainable model to meet health challenges of the Global South.

"The Prime Minister chaired a meeting today to review the progress of work in the tourism sector," a senior official said. Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, his deputy in the tourism ministry Suresh Gopi, Union tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi and top PMO officials attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also shared a short video on its YouTube page.

"Attended the review meeting chaired by honourable PM Shri @narendramodi to assess the progress in the #Tourism sector. His visionary leadership is the guiding force for all our efforts in making Bharat a top global tourist destination," Mr Shekhawat posted on X.

At the tourism review meeting, besides touching on the broader contours of the sector, two flagship schemes of the tourism ministry -- PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) and Swadesh Darshan -- were also discussed.

Addressing the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, the Prime Minister said that India’s approach provides replicable, scalable, and sustainable models to meet health challenges of the Global South.

Referring to this year’s WHA theme, "One World for Health", Mr Modi emphasised that it aligns with India’s vision for global health. Recalling his 2023 WHA address, where he had spoken about "One Earth, One Health", he said that the future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, an integrated vision and collaboration.

Emphasising that inclusion is at the core of India’s health reforms, Mr Modi highlighted Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme, which covers 580 million people and provides free treatment. The programme was recently expanded to cover all Indians above the age of 70 years.

The Prime Minister noted India's extensive network of thousands of health and wellness centres that facilitate early screening and detection of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension. He also underlined the role of thousands of public pharmacies that provide high-quality medicines at significantly lower prices.

Highlighting the role of technology in improving health outcomes, Mr Modi underscored India’s digital initiatives like the digital platform that tracks the vaccination of pregnant women and children and the unique digital health identity system, which is helping integrate benefits, insurance, records and information.

The Prime Minister remarked that with telemedicine, no one is too far from a doctor and highlighted India’s free telemedicine service, which has enabled over 340 million consultations.

Reflecting on the positive impact of India’s health initiatives, Mr Modi further noted a significant decline in "out-of-pocket expenditure" as a percentage of "total health expenditure". He also emphasised that government health expenditure has increased considerably.

“The health of the world depends on how well we care for the most vulnerable,” said Mr Modi, highlighting that the Global South is particularly impacted by health challenges and stressing that India’s approach provides replicable, scalable and sustainable models.

The Prime Minister expressed India’s willingness to share its learnings and best practices with the world, especially with the Global South.

Looking ahead to the 11th International Day of Yoga in June, Mr Modi encouraged global participation. Highlighting this year’s theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health", he extended an invitation to all countries, emphasising India’s role as the birthplace of yoga.