COUNTRIES The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) claimed on 28th April 2020 that India is providing pharma aid to 85 countries, which includes many countries in Africa, to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The Main ministry released the statement after the External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar took part in the COUNTRIES BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting.
Reportedly, the EAM also participated in the online Foreign Ministers meeting on 29th April 2020 regarding COVID-19. The Ministry’s statement went as, “EAM highlighted initiatives taken early by India in the wake of COVID-19, including Aarogya Setu Citizen App and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package. He highlighted that much before COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO, India instituted measures to check it. India is providing pharma assistance to nearly 85 nations, including many countries in Africa, on a grant basis, to support their response to the pandemic. This has been widely welcomed.”
India is also standing up for international cooperation. The AEM also apprised the BRICS Foreign Ministers about the steps taken in coordination to curb the pandemic in South Asia and the creation of COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund by the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries.
This virus outbreak has brought forth the fact that intricate interdependencies exist in the international pharma produce. India has been a leading generic drug exporter. The shortage of medical supplies is a major threat caused by this pandemic. Experts believe that it can also serve as an COUNTRIES opportunity to reassess the pharmaceutical market and dependencies for India.
