India’s role and stature in the global health system
- Indian Foreign Affairs Journal
- 17(1-2), Jan-Jun, 2022: p.105-117
Pandemic recast India’s healthcare system; and within a short span of time catalyzed changes in its fragmented infrastructure and workflows. The Covid- 19 pandemic time demands on the health systems worldwide had catapulted the country into the global scenario reiterating its status as an aspirant of global pharmacy status and hub of healthcare expertise. India’s proficiency in the field has been reflected for years in the inflow of medical tourists to India’s renowned private sector hospitals and few in the public sector and outflow of medical workforce, including doctors and nurses to the developed world. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the glaring shortages of trained medical workforce in the developed world, offering an opportunity for India to fill the gap. India’s timely medical assistance to several countries during the peak of the pandemic has reinforced its soft power, besides enhancing its credentials as an important global player in health sector. The pandemic has underlined the importance of adopting modern and advanced tools such as information technology, digital platforms in health sector. There is now a growing realization about the importance of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the health sector. The issues which are of global dimension in health sector include sustained supply chains particularly during the global disasters, international cooperation, global health security, strengthening health systems, inequities, role of World Health Organization (WHO) etc. Can India derive strategic benefits in expanding Global Health Diplomacy. Reproduced