India Pledges Health Cooperation at First BIMSTEC Ministers Meeting

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda addressed the inaugural Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Health Ministers' Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 11, 2026. The summit followed a preliminary session conducted by senior officials on Tuesday.

Nadda reaffirmed India's commitment to building a more resilient Bay of Bengal region, specifically calling for increased cooperation in health security, pandemic preparedness, and the One Health approach. He offered to share India's domestic successes in digital healthcare, such as eSanjeevani, and Universal Health Coverage through the Ayushman Bharat program with other member nations.

To facilitate joint research and capacity building, India committed to hosting the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated the visit represents a step toward deepening healthcare partnerships with Sri Lanka and other regional partners.