MoS Health and Family Welfare and MoS for South East Asia Affairs discuss relations in the health sector

New Delhi [India], October 5 : Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey and United Kingdom's Minister of State for South East Asia Affairs Tariq Ahmed on Monday discussed bilateral relations in the health sector of the two countries through video conferencing.
The two ministers deliberated upon the current status of the COVID-19 vaccine, its attempts to reach the public, and the efforts being made by both countries to end the pandemic.
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, "Choubey said that Covid-19 has given humanity an opportunity to come together and fight this pandemic with full force and resolve."
"For centuries India had advocated the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', The World as One family." Explaining how this cultural attitude will play an important role for humanity in the future, he stressed upon the need to "fight this epidemic as a family in this difficult time."
"India-UK bilateral relations in the health sector are deep and strong. Cooperation between the two countries has strengthened over time." Choubey said while recollecting the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in Geneva between the two countries in 2013 for continued cooperation in health.
In the agenda of the next joint working group meeting, Choubey focused on the need to include the theme of "Ayushman Bharat," and suggested to further cooperation in the fields of e-health, drug regulations, regulatory cooperation, pharma exports, collaborative research, capacity building, etc., to toughen the relationship between the two countries.
"UK's Minister of State for South East Asia, Tariq Ahmed took this occasion to discuss the work being done by India and United Kingdom on the COVID-19 vaccine. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's critical help in the form of medicines during this transition period," the statement added.