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New Delhi : Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan participated in the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) through Video Conference here on May 18, 2020.
Responding to address of Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Harsh Vardhan, said, ““ Keva Bain, President of the World Health Assembly, and Dr Tedros, Director General of WHO, 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 Prime Minister 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. We are learning and we are confident of doing better in the months to come,” Dr Vardhan said, according to a PIB release.
He said 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,” Dr Vardhan added.
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 medicine to 123 nations as an expression of solidarity, he said. Therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccine 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,” Dr Vardhan said.