October 19, 2020
Medical R&D, development of the medical instruments are priority areas for bilateral engagements.
The sharing of knowledge and best practices in Ayurvedic medicine in the UAE is also part of the agreement.
The seven mega parks for the manufacturing of medical supplies have been identified as avenues of investment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved India and South Africa’s proposal to waive IPR on the COVID-19 vaccine.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has served as the setting for several noteworthy bilateral collaborations between India and important international stakeholders. The UAE-India Healthcare Conference 2020 which was held on October 19 was one such forum where the potential for vibrant bilateral ties in fostering end-to-end healthcare management was explored. The United Arab Emirates Government has committed to creating a conducive support system for the development of the sector and allied industries including medical R&D as well as instruments. Ambassador Pavan Kapoor identified opportunities for bilateral collaboration in the proliferation of the Ayurveda system of medicine. “Ayushman Bharat Yojana requires a lot of infrastructure and the same can be complemented by the UAE side. The introduction of the AYUSH system of traditional Indian medicine can also be used to complement the health system in the UAE,” he remarked. The existing manufacturing ecosystem consisting of seven mega parks could be enriched by investments from the UAE. Other eminent participants in the UAE-India Healthcare Conference included Girish Krishnamurty, CEO & Director- Tata Medical and Diagnostics, Dr Viren Shetty from Narayana Hrudayalaya and Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman & MD, Aster DM Healthcare.
The same day witnessed yet another radical move in the global fight against COVID-19. The World Health Organization approved proposals from both India and South Africa to waive intellectual property agreements in relation to the much anticipated vaccine. This move will help improve widespread access to the vaccine across all sections of the international community. Supported by entities like Doctors without Borders, Neglected Diseases Initiative and UnitAid, the waiver will be in effect for a period of two years. The recently concluded 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between India and the United States of America also recognised the need for bilateral collaboration in vaccines and therapeutics. The nations are to sign an MoU between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for large-scale engagement in pandemic prevention, mitigation, diagnostic capabilities as well as overall innovation. Vibrant bilateral cooperation in healthcare and allied domains can give greater impetus to the global fight against COVID19.