23-May-2022: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya addresses 75th session of World Health Assembly WHO HQ, Geneva

In a historic address at the 75th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva at WHO HQ, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya exhorted India's commitment to build a more resilient global health security architecture. Underscoring the need to strengthen WHO, the Union Minister noted, "As highlighted by India’s Prime Minister, there is a need to build a resilient global supply chain to enable equitable access to vaccines and medicines, streamlining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics and strengthen WHO to build a more resilient global health security architecture". As a responsible member of the global community, India is ready to play a key role in these efforts, he added.

The Union Minister noted, "India believes that this year’s theme linking peace and health, is timely & pertinent because there can be no sustainable development & universal health & wellbeing without peace".

However at the session, India also raised dismay and concern over WHO’s recent exercise on all cause excess mortality, where country specific authentic data published by the statutory authority has not been taken into account. In this regard, the Union Health Minister conveyed the collective disappointment of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, a representative body of Health Ministers from all States of India, as they passed a unanimous resolution regarding the approach and methodology of WHO on excess mortality reports.

The full text of address of the Union Health Minister is as under:

India believes that this year’s theme linking peace and health, is timely & pertinent because there can be no sustainable development & universal health & wellbeing without peace.

India firmly believes that WHO has a Central role to play in achieving the goal of Health for all in an objective & result oriented manner. It should be our collective endeavour to ensure that WHO is fit for the purpose to deal with contemporary realities. India has always constructively contributed to make WHO reflect the aspirations of Member States & that its processes must be driven by Member States.

In this context, it is with a sense of dismay and concern that India notes WHO’s recent exercise on all cause excess mortality where our Country specific authentic data published by the statutory authority has not been taken into account.

Consequently, the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, a representative body of Health Ministers from all States within India, constituted under Article 263 of Constitution of India, passed a unanimous resolution asking me to convey their collective disappointment and concern with WHO’s approach in this regard.

There is a need to ensure centrality of WHO in global architecture & increase assessed contribution to WHO in a phased manner, but that should be linked to an accountability framework, value for money approach & genuine engagement with Member States.

India would like to highlight that besides equitable access to medical countermeasures including aspects related to intellectual property, need for cost-effective research, technology transfer and regional manufacturing capacities must remain an important focus area.

India’s Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi ji has highlighted the need for building a resilient global supply chain to enable equitable access to vaccines and medicines; the need for streamlining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics and reform as well as strengthening of WHO to build a more resilient global health security architecture. As a responsible member of the global community, India is ready to play a key role in these efforts.

24-May-2021: As Chairman of the Executive Board, WHO, Dr Harsh Vardhan presented details of 147th and 148th sessions of the Executive Board before 74th World Health Assembly

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and the Chairman of WHO Executive Board presented details of the 147th and 148th sessions of EB before the 74th World Health Assembly today. Dr Tedros, Director-General of the World Health Organisation briefed about the various activities of WHO including those taken up for COVID management. The Assembly was chaired by Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, Health Minister of Bhutan.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Harsh Vardhan summarized the highlights of the 147th and 148th sessions of the Executive Board and its Special Session on COVID-19 response that was held on October 5th and 6th 2020.

Highlighting the achievements of the 148th session, which was held from 18th January to 26th January 2021, Dr Harsh Vardhan noted that the Board called for further efforts to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility and encouraged WHO to work closely with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to identify the zoonotic source of the virus.

Dr Harsh Vardhan further said, “The Executive Board stressed that the findings of the three review mechanisms – Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the Chair of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations 2005 during COVID-19 Response, and the Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Program- should inform future decision-making and that the Member States needed to play a pivotal role in guiding the Secretariat’s translation of those findings into policy action.”

Dr Harsh Vardhan explained the decisions taken to strengthen the first pillar, which is focused on Universal Health Coverage. He said, “The Board decided to encourage Member States to take further action to address diabetes as a public health problem and recommended that the 74th World Health Assembly should adopt a decision to present an implementation road map for the global action plan for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases during the period 2013 to 2030. The Board also requested the Director-General to draft a global strategy to tackle oral diseases and an action plan for oral public health, as well as recommended that the Health Assembly adopt the global patient safety action plan for the period 2021 to 2030. The Board emphasized the importance of adopting a ‘One Health’ approach following consideration of a report on anti-microbial resistance and welcomed Member State’s participation in the revision of the Codex Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance.”

Emphasizing Health Emergencies as being the second pillar, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that the Board engaged in wide-ranging and in-depth discussions on COVID-19 impact on global health. The Board noted various measures taken by the members and underscored the importance of guaranteeing equitable access for all to COVID-19 medicines and vaccines to ensure that they are considered as global public goods. The Board also recommended that the 74th World Health Assembly must consider the report on mental health preparedness and response for the COVID-19 pandemic and endorse the updated comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan for the period of 2013 to 2030.

Dr Harsh Vardhan also informed the forum that “The Board noted the report on the public health implications of implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and acknowledged the need for timely pathogen-sharing to fulfil public health needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerning reports on poliomyelitis eradication, polio transition planning and polio post-certification, the Board expressed concern about the surge in cases of wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the increasing outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus in several countries, and falling immunization rates as a result of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dr Harsh Vardhan also highlighted the recommendation of the Board to the 74th World Health Assembly, the adoption of a resolution on strengthening efforts to address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, the recommendations made to the Board in concern to the third pillar, focused on general health and well-being. The Executive Board also noted the reports on the Proposed Programme budget 2022 to 2023 and decided to establish a time-bound and result-oriented Working Group on Sustainable Financing, open to all Member States, during the fourth pillar, which is focused on providing better support to countries. This would enable WHO to have the robust structures and capacities required to fulfil its core functions as defined in the Constitution.

He further stated that to strengthen the governance matters, the Board decided to recommend the adoption of a decision to sunset and streamline reporting requirements on certain resolutions and decisions. It also recommended that the 74th World Health Assembly adopted a decision to welcome the Secretariat’s support of initiatives that celebrate the date of 30th January as a day dedicated to neglected tropical diseases.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that in concern of global strategies and plans of action that are scheduled to expire within one year, the Board recommended the adoption of a resolution to ensure comprehensive, accessible and affordable access to health systems and care for all persons with disabilities. The Board also requested the Director-General to undertake a broad consultative process to develop global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, for the period 2022 to 2030.

He ended his speech thanking Dr. Tedros and Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Chairperson, WHO SEARO for their valuable support to his office during the past year.

18-May-2020: Dr Harsh Vardhan participates in the 73rd World Health Assembly through VC

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare participated in the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) through Video Conference, here today. India’s response on address of Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), delivered by Dr. Harsh Vardhan is as follows:

“Her Excellency Ms. Keva Bain, President of the World Health Assembly, Dr. Tedros, Director General of WHO & Excellencies,

At the very outset, I wish to express my deepest condolences at the loss of lives across the world due to COVID-19. I also take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the efforts of those who are in the frontline of this battle.

We, in India, undertook the COVID-19 challenge with the highest level of political commitment. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, personally monitored the situation and ensured a pre-emptive, pro-active and graded response, leaving no stones unturned to contain the deadly virus from spreading.

India took all necessary steps well in time, including surveillance at points of entry, evacuation of nationals stranded overseas, massive community surveillance through robust disease surveillance network, strengthening of health infrastructure, capacity building of over two million frontline human resources, risk communication and community involvement. I think we did our best and we did well. We are learning and we are confident of doing better in the months to come.

Excellencies, today there are compelling circumstances that have forced us all to meet virtually. The 73rd WHA is the first ever virtual health assembly, it is unprecedented, but it’s also perhaps the most important one ever; because as we sit and discuss here, the pandemic continues to kill thousands of people and also causing a deep global recession.

This is the time when humankind must come together. Today, I urge upon all Governments, industry and philanthropy to prioritise the long term and pool their resources, to ensure everyone benefits.

On our part, India is playing a key role in fostering bilateral and regional partnerships. Under our Prime Minister’s able leadership, India has supplied essential medicines to 123 nations as an expression of solidarity.

Therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines for the whole world is the only way out of this pandemic. Global collaboration is paramount. Governments, industry and philanthropy must pool resources to pay for the risk, the research, manufacturing and distribution, but with the condition that the rewards should be available to everyone, regardless of where they have been developed.

Today, in the two-day deliberations, we should share our learnings from how each one of us has tackled this catastrophe since January, how we can support the financial or technical gaps that some of our member states may have and agree to continue R&D in an aggressive and collaborative way.

In congratulating all those who are striving to save humanity, we welcome efforts to make all International Institutions more reflective of 21st Century realities. India will always stand with such efforts to foster meaningful and broad-based change.

I close my speech today with a loud applause for all those across the world who are in the forefront of this battle against a deadly virus.

I stand here to honour the doctors, the nurses, the paramedics, the scientists, the journalists, the delivery boys, security staff, sanitation staff and the police personnel - the forgotten roles who are today playing ‘super humans’. They are our real heroes.

22-May-2019: World Health Assembly Update

Member States at the World Health Assembly agreed three resolutions on universal health coverage (UHC). They focus on: primary healthcare, the role of community health workers, and the September UN General Assembly high-level meeting on UHC.

Primary health care towards universal health coverage: The first resolution urges Member States to take measures to implement the Declaration of Astana, adopted at the 2018 Global Conference on Primary Health Care. It recognizes the key role strong primary health care plays in ensuring countries can provide the full range of health services a person needs throughout their life – be it disease prevention or treatment, rehabilitation or palliative care. Primary health care means countries must have quality, integrated health systems, empowered individuals and communities, and that they must involve a wide range of sectors in addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.

The resolution calls on the WHO secretariat to increase its support to Member States in this area. WHO is also required to finalize its Primary Health Care Operational Framework in time for next year’s World Health Assembly. WHO and other stakeholders are tasked with supporting countries in implementing the Declaration of Astana and mobilizing resources to build strong and sustainable primary health care.

Community health workers delivering primary health care: The second resolution recognizes the contribution made by community health workers to achieving universal health coverage, responding to health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations. It urges countries and partners to use WHO’s guideline on health policy and system support to optimize community health worker programme, and to allocate adequate resources. At the same time, the WHO Secretariat is requested to collect and evaluate data,  monitor implementation of the guideline, and provide support to Member States.

Community health workers have a key role to play in delivering primary health care – they speak local languages and have the trust of local people. They need to be well trained, effectively supervised, and properly recognized for the work they do, as part of multi-disciplinary teams. Investing in community health workers generates important employment opportunities, especially for women. 

Universal health coverage high-level meeting: The final UHC resolution endorsed by Member States supports preparation for the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on universal health coverage in September 2019. The resolution calls on Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage with a focus on poor, vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups. The UN high-level meeting will call for the involvement of governments in coordinating the work required across all sectors to achieve universal health coverage. Member States identified key priorities such as health financing, building sustainable and resilient people-centred health systems, and strengthening health workforces. They also emphasized  the importance of investing in and strengthening primary health care.

21-May-2018: J P Nadda leads Indian Delegation at World Health Assembly

“India is firmly committed to achieving universal health coverage for its citizens as has been articulated in our National Health Policy 2017.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his addresses at the Plenary Meeting of the 71st World Health Assembly, at Geneva. The Health Minister spoke on the theme: Health for All: Commit To Universal Health Coverage.

Reiterating the commitment of the government, the Union Health Minister said that India has fast-tracked many initiatives aimed at achieving all the tenets of Universal Health Coverage i.e. strengthening health systems, improving access to free medicines and diagnostics, reducing catastrophic health care spending to translate our vision of achieving UHC. Ayushman Bharat, the programme rests on the twin pillars of Health and Wellness Centres, the provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services and the Prime Minister’s National Health Protection Mission for secondary and tertiary care for 100 million families covering 500 million individuals. We are reaching out to approximately 40% of the country’s population who will be provided an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per year. This will be the world’s largest government funded health protection scheme in the world.

To reduce the burden of NCDs, India has already initiated universal screening for prevention and management of five common NCDs: hypertension, diabetes and three common cancers – those of the oral cavity, breast and cervix for individuals at pan India level. India has also started providing medicines for cancers, cardiovascular diseases and cardiac implants at significantly reduced prices.

In line with India’s ambitious plan to end TB by 2025, the Government has started the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for TB and allocated 550 million dollars. Apart from rapid scale up of diagnostics and treatment, Government has introduced supplementary nutrition for patients for duration of treatment.

Shri J P Nadda also addressed the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of the 71st World Health Assembly and spoke about the global fight against Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs). He said that interventions for prevention and control of NCDs are to be prioritized and are to be integrated at all levels of health care delivery systems.  He said that for comprehensive management of lifestyle related disorders, a pilot project on ‘Integration of AYUSH with National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)’ has been initiated. Synergy is being harnessed between Allopathy system under NPCDCS and alternative systems of medicine under AYUSH, for prevention and management of ‘lifestyle-related’ common NCDs.

In another address at the Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting, Shri Nadda spoke on the Universal Health Coverage Funding Mechanisms in the Commonwealth. Both developed as well as developing countries are aspiring to achieve Universal Health Coverage through either a purely tax-funded regime, or risk pooling under social health insurance mechanisms or a mix of both. India has followed a mix of these strategies and so far, revenues from general taxation are the primary source of government funding, since coverage under the social health insurance is low due to low proportion of organised workforce. “India’ s National Health policy, 2017 commits to achieving a target of raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP in a time bound manner by 2025 and the government is committed to providing the resources for achieving Universal Health Coverage,”

Shri J P Nadda also inaugurated ‘Walk the Talk’ event and gave a call ‘Health for all, Yoga for all’. He also led the yoga session ahead of 71st World Health Assembly. Delegates from across the world participated in the yoga session. Shri Nadda said that Yoga can help in several medical conditions and want to spread it globally and be embraced by people so that they can benefit from it.

The Union Health Minister also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from UK, Brazil and Sweden on the side-lines of World Health Assembly.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.

The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.