Union Health Secretary showcases India’s digital health innovations at WHO SE Asia summit

New Delhi: Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary of India, chaired a high-level meeting on “Advancing Health and Well-Being of Billions in WHO South-East Asia Region” on May 27 in Geneva.

The event, a side meeting to the 77th World Health Assembly, was co-hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia (SEARO) and the Government of India.

The gathering aimed to integrate innovative health solutions and to strategize collaborative efforts between Member States, WHO, and partners to tackle crucial public health issues and to improve health outcomes in the Southeast Asia region. 

The session commenced with a video presentation on India’s Health Journey, emphasizing the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Mission’s role in achieving universal health coverage for Indian citizens.

In his address, Apurva Chandra underscored India’s pioneering use of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the CoWIN platform. He announced the transition from CoWIN to UWIN, a new digital platform designed to track immunization and create digital certificates for every child in India. Chandra highlighted India’s status as the “pharma capital of the world,” which bolsters the SEARO region with affordable medical countermeasures.

Apurva Chandra also introduced the BHISM cube, a product of India’s Aarogya Maitri Project. This innovative, modular medical aid cube can treat up to 200 casualties and is equipped with cutting-edge technology for deployment during disasters and emergencies.

Representatives from various member states shared insights on enhancing cooperation in vaccination delivery, addressing non-communicable diseases, and strengthening health system preparedness. Discussions also focused on post-pandemic recovery, climate crisis response, ageing population challenges, mental health issues, and the decentralization of health management to provincial and district levels.

Key attendees included Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry; Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Managing Director (NHM), Union Health Ministry; Dr. Basant Garg, Additional CEO, National Health Authority; Arindam Bagchi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva; Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO SEARO; along with representatives from WHO SEARO member states, key development partners in Southeast Asia, and senior WHO management and secretariat.