India addressed the plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly Earlier this year, reaffirming its commitment to global health equity under the theme “One World for Health.” India’s reaffirmation of its commitment to equitable, inclusive, and globally coordinated healthcare at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) not only showcases its domestic achievements but also its rising stature as a global health leader. At the heart of India’s presentation was the transformative success of Ayushman Bharat, a program that is fast becoming a global case study in universal health coverage. By expanding access to healthcare, enhancing medical infrastructure, and providing financial protection for millions, Ayushman Bharat indeed represents an unprecedented step toward ensuring that quality healthcare is not a privilege but a right. Extending its benefits to all citizens above the age of 70, regardless of economic status, further cements India’s approach to health as a pillar of social justice.
Perhaps the most globally resonant part of India’s address was its emphasis on a just and equitable Pandemic Agreement. The scars of COVID-19—felt most deeply by nations with limited resources—have revealed the urgent need for technology sharing, transparent pathogen data exchange, and timely access to diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
India’s call for a legally binding global framework that protects sovereignty while ensuring solidarity, especially for the Global South, reflects a principled stand at the intersection of pragmatism and equity.
As a leading voice for the developing world, India’s stance reminds the global community that pandemic preparedness cannot be a privilege of the few. It must be a shared endeavour—grounded in fairness, inclusivity, and mutual respect.
In a world that remains vulnerable to emerging health threats, India’s leadership at WHA 2025 sends a clear signal: the future of global health depends not on isolated excellence, but on cooperative resilience. And India, with its experience, infrastructure, and ethical conviction, is ready to lead from the front.