What Did Nadda and His Norwegian Counterpart Discuss Regarding Healthcare Partnership?
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Synopsis
Union Minister J P Nadda met with Norwegian Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre, aiming to strengthen healthcare collaboration. Key topics included digital health, maternal nutrition, and joint disease research. The proposed MoU signifies a deeper commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and improving health outcomes in both nations.
Key Takeaways
- Meeting between J P Nadda and Jan Christian Vestre focused on healthcare collaboration.
- Proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation.
- Discussion on digital health and maternal nutrition.
- Norway India Partnership Initiative marks nearly 20 years of collaboration.
- Investment by India significantly exceeds Norway's contributions.
New Delhi, Nov 17 (NationPress) Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, convened a meeting on Monday with his Norwegian counterpart, Jan Christian Vestre, to explore India's key focuses in digital health, human resource development, maternal and child nutrition, and joint research on diseases.
Nadda expressed his intention to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation between both nations in areas of health, medicine, and drug regulation.
“I met with Mr. Jan Christian Vestre, the Health Minister of Norway, in New Delhi today. I suggested signing MoUs to advance our partnership in health and medicine, along with drug regulation. We discussed India’s priorities in digital health, human resources, maternal and child nutrition, and collaborative research on diseases. I look forward to furthering our healthcare collaboration and enhancing bilateral relations between our nations,” the Health Minister shared on X.
Previously, Norway's Ambassador to India, May Elin-Stener, warmly welcomed Vestre to New Delhi.
In a video uploaded by May Elin Stener on X, Vestre remarked, “Dear friends, I am thrilled to be back in India. Last year, I visited multiple times as Norway's Minister of Trade. This time, I return as the Minister of Health and Care Services, eager to deepen our collaboration in the health sector. I am very excited to attend the Bengaluru Tech Summit tomorrow and to engage with partners driving the future of healthcare and innovation.”
While sharing the video on X, the Norwegian ambassador wrote, “I am excited to welcome Norway’s Minister of Health and Care Services, Jan Christian Vestre, back to India. His agenda includes high-level meetings, discussions on digital health and innovation, and participation in the Bengaluru Tech Summit.”
Earlier in October, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava led the annual meeting of the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI), which was co-chaired by Norway's Ambassador May-Elin Stener. This meeting aimed to review and approve the NIPI Progress Report 2025 and the budgeted work plans for 2025–26 under the fourth phase of the initiative, as per a press release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
During the event, Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted, “NIPI showcases how collaborative efforts can yield significant results. The Government of India also focuses on collaboration with states and Union Territories (UTs) through a whole-of-government approach to achieve desired outcomes.” She emphasized that India represents a promising environment for fostering innovation and expressed the commitment to share best practices under the initiative for application in other contexts.
In her comments at the event, May-Elin Stener noted that next year will commemorate 20 years of this partnership. She pointed out that numerous innovative and catalytic interventions stemming from this partnership have produced substantial outcomes. She remarked that the Indian government has invested 26 times the amount Norway has contributed under this initiative, underscoring the significance of this collaboration.
The NIPI is founded on an agreement between the Governments of Norway and India to collaborate towards fulfilling India’s National Health Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as stated in the press release. The vision of NIPI is to provide strategic, catalytic, and innovative support to India’s National Health Mission (NHM) in regions such as Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The partnership has successfully completed three phases and is currently in its fourth phase, offering essential technical support to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the NHMs of partner states.
Point of View
Leveraging the strengths of both nations to achieve better health outcomes. Such diplomatic engagements not only strengthen bilateral ties but also contribute to global health advancements.
NationPress
17/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main focus of the meeting between Nadda and Vestre?
The meeting primarily focused on enhancing collaboration in digital health, maternal and child nutrition, and joint disease research between India and Norway.
What is the purpose of the proposed MoU?
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding aims to deepen cooperation in health, medicine, and drug regulation between India and Norway.
What is the NIPI?
The Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) is a collaborative effort between Norway and India to support the implementation of India's National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How long has the NIPI been active?
The NIPI has been active for nearly 20 years, with significant investments made by both the Indian government and Norway.
What are the key initiative areas under NIPI?
Key initiative areas under NIPI include enhancing support for India’s National Health Mission in regions like Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir.
