COLOMBO, Nov 12: India and other BIMSTEC member countries have agreed to strengthen regional healthcare cooperation through a comprehensive public health roadmap aimed at improving medical accessibility, disease prevention and emergency preparedness across the Bay of Bengal region.
The agreement was reached during the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where participating countries unanimously adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement reaffirming their commitment to accessible, affordable and quality healthcare.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda represented India at the historic meeting and highlighted the country’s willingness to share its experience in primary healthcare, digital health infrastructure, medical education and public health management with neighbouring nations.
A major outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the Revised BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Public Health for 2026–2030. The five-year framework establishes a structured approach to regional collaboration on common healthcare challenges and aims to strengthen the capacity of member countries to respond collectively to emerging medical threats.
The participating nations recognised that public health challenges increasingly extend beyond national boundaries, making coordinated action, information-sharing and institutional partnerships essential for protecting populations.
The initiative is expected to provide opportunities for cooperation in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, healthcare workforce development, traditional medicine and the One Health approach.
Five-Year Roadmap for Regional Health Security
The revised action plan seeks to establish stronger coordination among BIMSTEC members in addressing communicable diseases and other public health emergencies.
Disease surveillance is among its major priorities, as early identification and reporting of infections can help governments respond before outbreaks spread across geographical boundaries.
Cross-border movement of people, international trade and regional travel create interconnected public health requirements. Effective communication between healthcare authorities can therefore improve preparedness and help prevent delays in responding to emerging threats.
The plan also emphasises pandemic preparedness, an area that gained considerable importance following the COVID-19 crisis.
The pandemic demonstrated the need for countries to maintain emergency response systems, adequate medical supplies, trained healthcare personnel and reliable communication networks.
Through regional cooperation, BIMSTEC countries aim to improve their ability to exchange technical knowledge and coordinate responses during health emergencies.
Digital healthcare is another important component of the agreement. Member nations are expected to explore opportunities to share experiences in telemedicine, electronic health systems and technology-based healthcare delivery.
Such initiatives could improve access to medical consultations and specialised services, particularly in geographically isolated communities.
The framework also identifies healthcare workforce development as a priority, recognising that trained doctors, nurses, technicians and other medical professionals are essential for building resilient health systems.
India and Sri Lanka Expand Medical Partnership
India’s participation in the meeting was accompanied by significant bilateral healthcare initiatives with Sri Lanka.
The two countries exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding for supplying 100 additional fully equipped ambulances under Indian grant assistance worth approximately USD 5.28 million.
The initiative is expected to strengthen emergency medical response capabilities in Sri Lanka by improving the availability of ambulance services and supporting timely transportation of patients requiring medical attention.
Access to emergency transport remains an important component of effective healthcare delivery, particularly in situations involving road accidents, cardiac emergencies, pregnancy-related complications and other critical medical conditions.
The additional ambulances are expected to support Sri Lanka’s existing emergency healthcare infrastructure and improve its capacity to respond to medical requirements across different regions.
India also announced assistance for establishing 50 Medical Kiosks or Health ATMs in Sri Lanka.
These facilities are intended to strengthen primary healthcare services by improving access to basic health assessments and medical screening facilities.
Medical kiosks can potentially support preliminary health checks, help individuals monitor selected health indicators and encourage people to seek medical advice when abnormalities are identified.
Their usefulness will depend on appropriate equipment, trained personnel, reliable connectivity and integration with existing healthcare facilities.
The initiative reflects India’s broader effort to support neighbouring countries through healthcare infrastructure development and technical cooperation.
Traditional Medicine to Receive Greater Attention
Another important development announced during the meeting was India’s proposal to host the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The proposed centre is expected to provide a platform for cooperation in traditional medicine research, education and knowledge-sharing among participating countries.
Traditional healthcare practices have a significant presence across several BIMSTEC nations, making the exchange of scientific knowledge and research experience an important area of regional collaboration.
India has offered to contribute its institutional expertise in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
The centre could facilitate academic exchanges, professional training and research partnerships, subject to the development of appropriate institutional arrangements.
Medical experts have consistently highlighted the importance of scientific evaluation, quality control and evidence-based standards when traditional healthcare practices are incorporated into broader health systems.
A regional institution could therefore help promote research-based discussions and improve the exchange of information between participating countries.
The proposed centre also offers an opportunity to examine how traditional medicine can complement preventive healthcare while maintaining patient safety and appropriate clinical standards.
One Health Approach Gains Importance
The Revised BIMSTEC Plan of Action also includes the One Health approach, which recognises the close relationship between human, animal and environmental health.
This approach has gained importance because several infectious diseases can spread between animals and humans.
Changes in land use, environmental degradation, wildlife interactions and agricultural practices can influence the emergence and transmission of certain infections.
The One Health framework encourages health authorities, veterinary institutions, environmental agencies and research organisations to work together.
Regional coordination in this area could help strengthen monitoring systems, improve laboratory cooperation and support early identification of diseases with the potential to affect human populations.
The framework also provides an opportunity to improve awareness and preparedness regarding antimicrobial resistance, which has become a major concern for healthcare systems worldwide.
Unnecessary antibiotic use in human medicine, veterinary treatment and agriculture can contribute to the development of drug-resistant microorganisms.
Coordinated action across different sectors is therefore essential for addressing this challenge.
India Offers Expertise in Digital and Primary Healthcare
During the discussions, Nadda highlighted India’s transformation in healthcare delivery and offered to share the country’s experience with BIMSTEC partners.
India has expanded several digital health initiatives aimed at improving access to medical services and strengthening the management of healthcare information.
Telemedicine platforms, digital health records and technology-supported public health programmes have created new opportunities for reaching patients in remote and underserved locations.
The experience gained through these initiatives could be useful for countries seeking to strengthen their own healthcare infrastructure.
Primary healthcare was another important area highlighted by the Indian delegation.
Strong primary healthcare networks can reduce pressure on specialised hospitals by supporting early diagnosis, preventive screening, routine treatment and timely referrals.
For developing countries with differences in healthcare access between urban and rural populations, improving primary medical services remains an important policy objective.
India has also expressed its willingness to share expertise in public health infrastructure, medical training and capacity-building programmes.
Such cooperation could help participating countries identify practical solutions suited to their individual healthcare requirements.
Bilateral Engagement with Nepal
Apart from its discussions with Sri Lanka, the Indian delegation also held bilateral talks with Nepal’s Health Minister.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen healthcare cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
India and Nepal share longstanding institutional and people-to-people relationships, including cooperation in medical education, healthcare services and capacity development.
Further engagement could support professional exchanges, technical collaboration and improved access to healthcare expertise.
The discussions were part of India’s broader diplomatic engagement with BIMSTEC partners and reflected the importance of healthcare as an area of regional cooperation.
Nadda also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo, highlighting the importance of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka.
Regional Cooperation to Support Better Health Outcomes
BIMSTEC brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, providing a regional platform for cooperation across several sectors.
Healthcare has become an increasingly important area of engagement as countries face common challenges involving infectious diseases, ageing populations, medical infrastructure and access to affordable treatment.
The latest ministerial agreement seeks to move cooperation beyond individual bilateral projects by establishing a shared framework for long-term public health development.
However, the success of the five-year plan will depend on effective implementation, regular monitoring, adequate financial support and continued participation from member countries.
The ambulance assistance and medical kiosk initiative with Sri Lanka represent practical examples of cooperation that can directly strengthen healthcare services.
Similarly, the proposed traditional medicine centre and digital health partnerships could create opportunities for academic and technical exchanges.
The adoption of the Joint Ministerial Statement marks an important step towards building stronger regional health systems.
By combining national expertise, institutional partnerships and coordinated public health planning, BIMSTEC members aim to improve healthcare access and strengthen their ability to respond to future medical challenges.