Address of Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare Government of India

(As President of the 68th World Health Assembly)

(Plenary Meeting - Opening of the Health Assembly; 18 May 2015)

Hon’ble Ministers,

Director General, WHO,

Regional Directors,

ADGs,

Distinguished Delegates,

It is a great honour and privilege to address this august Assembly.  Please accept my humble and grateful acknowledgement to all the Member States for bestowing upon India the honour of Presidency of the World Health Assembly. On behalf of 1.25 billion people of India, I convey to you our best wishes and greetings.

Excellencies,

The year 2014 witnessed an unprecedented health challenge with the Ebola virus disease outbreak. Many lives including of brave and dedicated healthcare workers were lost. We salute the heroic efforts of our African brothers and sisters in fighting Ebola against all odds and congratulate Liberia for becoming Ebola free.

While the situation now appears to be under control, the threat of outbreaks of new, emerging and remerging pathogens stares at us. We also battle with natural disasters with grave health consequences, the most recent one being the devastating earthquake in our neighbouring nation, Nepal. I wish to express the solidarity of the Member States with the people of Nepal and offer our heart-felt condolences to the bereaved families.

Excellencies,

The World Health Assembly every year is an opportunity for the Member States to take stock of the health challenges faced by humanity, while at the same time, prioritizing and strategizing our combined efforts. Today, we are at an important threshold. The upcoming UN summit in Sept 2015 would pave the way for the likely adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the post 2015 Development Agenda, which includes health related goals.

While taking pride in a fair amount of success in meeting the health related MDGs, we need to redouble our efforts to surmount ever increasing public health challenges, which include, among others, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, anti-microbial resistance, impact of climate change on health, universal health coverage, reducing health inequities among countries and within each country, providing sufficient human resources for health, ensuring access to affordable medicines and diagnostics, and preventing disease by promoting healthy lifestyles.

Excellencies,

The Indian philosophy teaches us to treat the whole world as our family, which is captured in the Sanskrit phrase, “Vasudhaiv kutumbakam”.

Our Upanishads preach

“Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah……..
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah”,

which means “May all be happy and May all be healthy and free from illness”. This only shows that even in ancient times, we prayed for good health for all.  But, by our actions, we as humanity tend to create conditions which lead to illness and disease.

We forget that health requires a holistic view of being one with nature, adopting healthy lifestyles and avoiding excesses. We forget that a tranquil mind and peaceful life reduces tensions.  Hon’ble Prime Minister of India His Excellency Narendra Modi ji, gave a call in the United Nations General Assembly in September last year to recognize Yoga as a provider of holistic approach to health and well-being. We are happy to note that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, with co-sponsorship from 177 countries, to observe 21st June as the International day of Yoga.

Excellencies,

We need a multi-sectoral approach in a sustainable institutional framework to promote ‘health-in-all’ policies. The recognition of inter-dependence and the need for collaboration of different sectors is necessary nationally and internationally. Inter-sectoral cooperation will not be meaningful unless we are also able to leverage the strengths of the civil society and the non-government sectors. In fact, the inter-dependence internationally is somewhat captured in the International Health Regulations.

The Ebola crisis has highlighted the inextricable link between weak health systems and incidents of outbreaks and the interdependence of health and overall economic growth and development. It is our collective responsibility to act decisively on the lessons learnt.

The theme of general discussion during the Assembly this year, “Building resilient Health Systems” is therefore very timely and appropriate. I look forward to a constructive discussion on this very important prerequisite for public health.

Excellencies,

I need not highlight the critical importance of social determinants of health. Inequity of resources has a direct correlation with inequities of health. We must therefore, continue to work collectively to address these inequities.

Excellencies,

We all recognize the World Health Organisation as one of the best international organizations in the world today. The commitment shown by WHO under the leadership of Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, in responding to ever increasing challenges to global health is commendable.

We need to reiterate our unequivocal support to WHO as the lead global health agency and strengthen its capacities to make it better and stronger. As a reflection of our own commitment to WHO and its mandate, I am happy to annouce the following voluntary contributions from India to WHO:

(i) One million US Dollars for the proposed WHO contingency fund.

(ii) Another One million US Dollars for the implementation of the identified demonstration projects under the Consultative Expert Working Group (CEWG) framework, and

(iii) One hundred thousand US Dollars for the Member State Mechanism on SSFFC medical products.

Excellencies,

We have a packed agenda during this World Health Assembly.  I am sure the deliberations will be very effective and fruitful.  Each Member state will add immense value to the discussions and outcomes. I extend my best wishes for the deliberations.

Excellencies, I thank you for your kind attention.