PM Modi Calls For Strengthening And Reforming WHO To Build More Resilient Global Health Security Architecture

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (12 May) called for strengthening and reforming the World Health Organisation (WHO) to build a more resilient global health security architecture.

Addressing the opening session of the second Global COVID Virtual Summit on Thursday, PM Modi highlighted that India adopted a people centric strategy to combat the pandemic and has made the highest ever allocation for its health budget this year.

PM Modi participated in the Summit on the invitation of US President Joe Biden.

He said that India was running the largest vaccination campaign in the world and had vaccinated close to ninety percent of its adult population and more than fifty million children.

"India manufactures four WHO approved vaccines and has the capacity to produce five billion doses this year," he added.

PM Modi also highlighted that as a responsible member of the global community, India would continue to play an active role by sharing its low cost indigenous COVID mitigation technologies, vaccines and therapeutics with other countries, a PMO release said on Thursday.

PM Modi said that India has used traditional medicine extensively and has laid the foundation for a WHO Center for Traditional Medicine in the country to make this knowledge available to the world.

Stressing on the need for a coordinated global response to combat future health emergencies, PM Modi called for building a resilient global supply chain 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," he added.

PM Modi also called for stream-lining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics to keep supply chains stable and predictable.

"As a responsible member of the global community, India is ready to play a key role in these efforts," he added.