- Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded India for its Digital Health platforms like the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers.
- Dr. Tedros made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- More than 70 delegates from different countries are participating in the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting and side event in Gandhinagar.
- The focus of the G20 Health Minister’s Meeting will be on the three key priorities of the G20 Health Track
Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighted the role of Medical Value Travel (MVT) and Digital Health in strengthening healthcare systems and accessibility across nations. Speaking at the “One Earth One Health – Advantage Healthcare India” event in Gandhinagar, Ghebreyesus emphasized the significance of MVT in providing specialized medical resources and services, while also praising the impact of Digital Health on healthcare accessibility.
He further commended India’s efforts in utilizing Digital Health platforms, citing the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres as an exemplary model. These platforms enable patients to access medical healthcare services via telemedicine, ensuring healthcare reaches even the most remote and underserved areas.
“Digital Health is a great asset as it enables patients to access medical healthcare services via telemedicine at platforms such as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres. Digital Health bridges the gap of affordability rendering medical care to the innermost areas and to those patients who may not be able to afford the services,” added Ghebreyesus.
Dr. Tedros made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. At the beginning of his address, Dr. Tedros thanked India for its gracious hospitality and visionary leadership in hosting the G20 Summit.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that more than 70 delegates from different countries are participating in the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting and side event in Gandhinagar here. The three-day G20 Health Ministers’ meeting under G20 India Presidency will culminate on August 19.”
India assumed the presidency of the G20 on December 1, 2022, and is currently part of the G20 Troika comprising Indonesia, India, and Brazil. India’s G20 Presidency marked the first time that the troika is consisting of three developing and emerging economies.
The focus of the G20 Health Minister’s Meeting will be on the three key priorities of the G20 Health Track, including health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response with a focus on anti-microbial resistance and One Health framework; Strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on access and availability to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics); and Digital Health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.
(With inputs from agencies)
