India to Share Healthcare Capabilities with BIMSTEC Countries, Plans Traditional Medicine Centre in Gujarat

Summary:
India has offered to extend its expertise in primary healthcare, digital health and public health infrastructure to BIMSTEC member countries, following the grouping’s first Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo. Union Health Minister J P Nadda announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, while member nations adopted a public health action plan for 2026–2030 focusing on disease surveillance, digital healthcare and pandemic preparedness. India also committed financial assistance for 100 additional ambulances and 50 medical kiosks in Sri Lanka, strengthening regional healthcare cooperation and access to medical services. 

India has proposed sharing its capabilities in primary healthcare, digital health services and public health infrastructure with BIMSTEC member countries. The proposal was made at the grouping’s first Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo on Wednesday, where participating nations unanimously approved a joint ministerial declaration and an updated public health action plan for 2026–2030.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, representing India at the gathering, outlined the country’s healthcare programmes and stressed that regional collaboration is crucial to expanding access to quality medical services and improving readiness to address emerging health challenges.

According to a statement from the Health Ministry, the meeting was attended by health ministers and senior officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The joint declaration reiterated the participating countries’ commitment to achieving universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3. Priority areas include disease monitoring, pandemic readiness, antimicrobial resistance, digital healthcare, traditional medicine, climate-related health challenges and strengthening the healthcare workforce.

The updated action plan outlines joint efforts in disease surveillance, emergency response preparedness, digital health, traditional medicine and the One Health approach. It also proposes examining the possibility of establishing a BIMSTEC Digital Health Framework covering telemedicine, interoperable electronic health records and AI-based diagnostic and disease-modelling applications.

Nadda announced that India would establish a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The proposed centre will support joint research, academic collaboration, skill development and the exchange of traditional medicine practices, while encouraging evidence-based treatments and improved quality and safety standards.

Highlighting India’s healthcare achievements, the minister cited the establishment of more than 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, healthcare coverage for over 60 crore people under AB PM-JAY and more than 50 crore teleconsultations delivered through the eSanjeevani platform.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Nadda held bilateral talks with Sri Lankan Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. During the discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged for supplying 100 additional fully equipped ambulances to Sri Lanka’s 1990 Suwa Seriya emergency ambulance service.

The ambulance initiative will receive Indian grant assistance amounting to SLR 1,725.73 million, equivalent to approximately $5.28 million.

India also announced financial support of up to SLR 225 million for setting up 50 Medical Kiosks/Health ATMs in Sri Lanka. These facilities will be installed at Arogya Primary Health Centres to deliver point-of-care diagnostic services connected with telemedicine facilities.

Nadda also held discussions with Nepal’s Health Minister Neesha Mehta on enhancing healthcare collaboration between the two countries and across the region.

BIMSTEC health ministers’ and senior officials’ meetings will take place once every two years, with Thailand volunteering to organise the second ministerial gathering in 2028.

Emphasising the importance of inclusive healthcare development, Nadda said, “No country should be left behind in its pursuit of better health outcomes.”