India has sent India-made COVID vaccines to 72 countries, in form of commercial deals and gifts.
Giving the details of India's covid vaccine outreach, India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar speaking at the upper house of the Indian Parliament Rajya Sabha has said that it has "raised India's standing" and "generated great international goodwill".
India has sent India-made COVID vaccines to 72 countries, in form of commercial deals and gifts. The outreach named "Vaccine Maitri" started with countries in the neighborhood, followed by Gulf, Africa, and CARICOM countries. New Delhi also sent vaccines under the COVAX.
He said, "House should recognize the enormous feeling for India that our initiative has generated....our Ambassadors feel every day the warmth of ordinary people across the world for India. In the truest sense, this has been people-centric diplomacy at work."
He pointed out, "The world sees not just the selfless outlook of India but also of the quality of our products and capabilities".
Last year, amid the pandemic, India supplied medicines like HCQ, Paracetamol to 150 countries of which 82 were gifted. Indian PM Narendra Modi also took the initiative of SAARC heads of government meeting to deal with the crisis.
Earlier this year, another meeting took place of health secretaries of SAARC and Indian ocean countries, during which the PM suggested a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses and a regional air ambulance pact.
EAM pointed out that, "Our reputation as the 'Pharmacy of the World' has been reinforced in that process. So indeed has the faith in 'Make in India'. But more than the vaccines themselves, our policies and conduct have emerged as a source of strength for the stressed and vulnerable nations of the world". Explaining, "They can see that there is at least one major nation that truly believes in making vaccines accessible and affordable to others in dire need."
As part of increasing capacity, India conducted 14 e-ITEC courses in partnership with premier institutions like AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh. These 14 courses had a total of 1131 professional participants from 47 countries.
There was even an exclusive one conducted in Bangla for Bangladeshi professionals. Interestingly, the Armed Forces Medical Services conducted a program for military doctors in South-east Asia.
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