India, US to set up working groups on health sector

[Guest guest]

India, US to set up working groups on health sector

Published on: June 28, 2010

WASHINGTON: India and the US have agreed to set up four working groups to

advance cooperation and establish common goals between two countries in health

sector.

In a meeting with the India's Union Health Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad last

week the US Health Secretary, Mr Kathleen Sebelius floated the idea the working

groups that will serve to engage all relevant parts of each government.

Mr Azad, on a week-long trip to the US, welcomed the proposal and suggested

that nursing and paramedical education, quality assurance, health informatics

and mental health on non-communicable diseases be included in the mandate of

these working groups.

The health minister emphasised on the need for an oversight mechanism to review

all collaborative partnerships between US and India, besides the need for a

strong US position in support of the `One World OneHealth' concept in the

context of Avian and Pandemic Influenza.

With India emerging as a global provider of health manpower, Mr Azad also

raised the need to upgrade nursing and paramedical education in India to

international standards introducing, institutions of nurse practitioner and

emergency paramedic.

Mr Azad asked his American counterpart to explore the possibility of a tie

between US medical institutes of excellence and the six AIIMS like institutes

being set up by the Indian government.

The meeting set into motion the dialogue on the India US Health Initiative,

which reflects the continuing partnership between the two countries with health

as the fulcrum.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders within a short span of one

month.

Mr Azad invited Mr Sebelius to visit India for the next round of discussions

under the India US Health Initiative.

http://www.navhindtimes.in/world-news/india-us-set-working-groups-health-sector