Statement by India in session one of the virtual expert workshop on good practices in ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 14 February 2023

Thank you, Chair.

As part of the core group of HRC resolution 50/13, my delegation welcomes the organisation of this workshop and thanks the experts for their insightful remarks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a grim reminder of the significance of access to medicines, vaccines and other health products. While it took an unprecedented toll on human life globally, the multiple crises in its wake have had a lasting socio-economic impact on developing countries. Iniquitous responses by the international community and institutions have led to unsustainable debt burdens for many countries exacerbating the divide between the Global North and Global South.

India’s public health response to the pandemic hasbeen proactive, pre-emptive and graded marked by a whole-of-Government and a whole-of-society approach. Our massive immunisation drive with over 2.2 billion COVID vaccines administered to more than 1 billion persons is a testament to our strong commitment to public health.Our strong belief in the welfare of the entire humanity is evident from our global efforts to combat COVID-19. To date, we have supplied more than 291 million vaccines to 99 countries and 2 UN entities as well as medical and other assistance to over 150countries. During the second wave, we also received support from our friends and partners. We have been strongly advocating for the principle of equity in the WHO andalso proposed, along with South Africa, a TRIPS waiver at the WTO for COVID vaccines, diagnostics and medicines.

Mr. Chair,

The Government of India is strongly committed to ensuring affordable, inclusive and quality healthcare access to every Indian. The healthcare sector in India is being strengthened on various fronts by eliminating the factors responsible for illness, augmenting health infrastructure, development of human resources, promotion of preventive healthcareand use of technology. The share of government expenditure in the total health expenditure has increased from 28.6% in FY2014 to 40.6% in FY2019.In a move towards universal health coverage, we areimplementing the world’s largest government funded healthcare assuranceprogrammethat provides coverage to over 500 million beneficiaries.

Mr. Chair,

We are of the strong view that a coordinated global response is required to combat future health emergencies. We must build resilient global supply chains and enable equitable access to vaccines and medicines. WTO rules, particularly TRIPS, need to be more flexible. WHO must be reformed and strengthened to build a more resilient global health security architecture. In this context, we strongly support the principle of equity to be incorporated as a key principle in the legally binding instrument on future pandemics being negotiated in WHO.

I thank you.