In a virtual address at the Health Ministers’ Session of the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, highlighted India's commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by countries in the Global South.
The summit, organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, saw participation from Health Ministers and Representatives of various nations, including Argentina, Belize, Chad, Grenada, Guatemala, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Mauritania, Kingdom of Morocco, Nicaragua, Somalia, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Republic of Yemen, Costa Rica, Commonwealth of Dominica, Benin, and the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Dr Mandaviya outlined three key health priorities that India has identified for global cooperation. Firstly, he emphasized the importance of health emergency prevention, preparedness, and response. Second, he highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. Lastly, he discussed the significance of digital health innovations and solutions.
Addressing the audience, Dr Mandaviya acknowledged the unprecedented challenges facing Global South countries and expressed India's commitment to reforming global governance structures. He stressed the necessity of making these structures more responsive to contemporary realities, particularly addressing the needs of the Global South in the 21st century.
The Union Health Minister underscored the significance of the One Health concept, emphasizing its effectiveness in addressing complex public health problems involving human health, animal health, and environmental health. Dr Mandaviya stated that recognizing the zoonotic origins of epidemics and pandemics is imperative, and a collective effort is needed to enhance pandemic preparedness and strengthen health systems.
Highlighting India's initiatives, Dr Mandaviya mentioned the National Centre for Disease Control's role in One Health-related endeavors, monitoring and investigating emerging infectious diseases. He also discussed the launch of the National One Health Mission, which adopts an integrated approach to observe interconnected aspects of humans, animals, and the environment to prevent diseases.
Dr Mandaviya emphasized the need for collective efforts to bolster resilience across economies, societies, healthcare systems, education systems, and infrastructure. He highlighted the central role of women in sustainable development and the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in propelling public health initiatives in the Global South.
