Covid update: With an aim to strengthen the diplomatic relations with neighbouring nations like Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for Covidiplomacy. Taking forward the “spirit of collaboration”, PM Modi recommended a specific visa scheme for physicians and nurses and a regional Air Ambulance agreement amongst 10 neighbouring nations involving India.
“If the 21st Century is to be the Asian Century, it cannot be without greater integration among the countries of South Asia and the Indian Ocean island countries. The spirit of regional solidarity that you have shown during the pandemic has proven that such integration is possible,” PM Modi stated when addressing a workshop on “Covid-19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward” with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka along with Indian officials and professionals.
Special visa scheme, regional Air Ambulance agreement in Asia!
PM Modi proposed the creation of a specific visa scheme for our physicians and nurses, citing that this will enable them travel promptly inside the area in the course of a overall health emergency at the request of the getting nation. Apart from this, PM Modi sought to know irrespective of whether the civil aviation ministries of the respective can coordinate a regional Air Ambulance agreement for healthcare contingencies.
PM Modi has also proposed that all the nations taking element in the workshop develop a regional platform for collating, compiling, and studying information about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines amongst the populations of these nations. PM Modi also asked irrespective of whether a regional network for advertising technologies-assisted epidemiology, for stopping future pandemics can be produced or not.
PM Modi recalled the creation of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to meet the instant expenses of fighting the pandemic and sharing of sources – medicines, PPE, and testing gear. He also noted the sharing of experiences and finding out from every single other’s most effective practices in testing, infection handle, and healthcare waste management. “This spirit of collaboration is a valuable takeaway from this pandemic. Through our openness and determination, we have managed to achieve one of the lowest fatality rates in the world. This deserves to be applauded. Today, the hopes of our region and the world are focused on the rapid deployment of vaccines. In this too, we must maintain the same cooperative and collaborative spirit,” stated PM Modi.