Last Updated on November 11, 2026 6:19 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN / Colombo
India has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional health cooperation within BIMSTEC, with Health Minister J.P. Nadda highlighting the country’s healthcare achievements and offering to share its expertise with member nations at the inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda showcased India’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage, citing flagship initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, the expansion of public health infrastructure, and the rapid adoption of digital healthcare solutions. He emphasized that these initiatives could serve as valuable models for enhancing healthcare delivery across the BIMSTEC region.
Underscoring the importance of regional solidarity, the minister called for deeper collaboration in key areas including health security, pandemic preparedness, the One Health approach, and traditional medicine. He reiterated India’s readiness to share its best practices, technical expertise, and healthcare innovations with fellow BIMSTEC countries.
Nadda also highlighted India’s proposal to host the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, describing it as a platform for joint research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange among member states.
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” the minister said India remains committed to supporting a healthier, more inclusive, and resilient BIMSTEC community.
Established in 1997, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises seven member countries – India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand. Public health has emerged as a key pillar of regional cooperation, with senior officials recently reviewing collaborative efforts in disease surveillance, cancer care, traditional medicine, and healthcare capacity building ahead of the ministers’ meeting.