Bengaluru: India, which is the pharmacy of the world, has ensured other countries get sufficient vaccines during the ongoing covid crisis.   

At a time when the country is facing the wrath of the virus, India has supplied vaccines to as many as 123 partner countries. 

It has also been active in global efforts to develop “diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines” to tackle the infection, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan. 

The union minister also emphasised that India works on ‘health for all’ principle. 

“Despite its own needs, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries, including 59 NAM nations. India has also been active in global efforts to develop diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Covid-19 because we know and understand that no one is safe until everyone is safe,” he said. 

“India is moving towards Universal Healthcare for all which means every citizen of India must get world quality treatment facilities. Full immunisation coverage is increasing at a rapid pace with a greater emphasis on village-based micro-plans as we aim to enhance coverage to 90 per cent in a year,” he added. 

“And we dream of making this scheme much bigger, ensuring it for every Indian! If a developing nation like India can dream of this level of 'health for all' policy, I think the rest of the world has to think even beyond this,” he noted. 

“We need an aggressive roadmap to curtail deaths from diseases that can be eliminated. We need a fresh roadmap to address shortages of medicines and vaccines. Our motto should always be to protect the health of those without wealth…,” he stressed. 

India vaccinates its people: 

India has been vaccinating its people starting January. The first preference was given to health line workers and then, those who are 60+ with comorbidities were asked to take the jab. 

Now, the vaccine programme has been thrown open to those who are 18+ years of age.