Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, reaffirmed India's readiness to share its healthcare expertise and best practices with BIMSTEC member nations, addressing the inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers' Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The landmark gathering marks the first time health ministers from BIMSTEC countries have convened under a dedicated multilateral framework.

Key Commitments from India

Nadda highlighted India's strides toward Universal Health Coverage through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, alongside strengthened public health infrastructure and digital healthcare initiatives. He emphasised regional solidarity and called for enhanced cooperation in health security, pandemic preparedness, One Health, and traditional medicine.

A notable announcement was India's commitment to hosting the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, aimed at promoting joint research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange across the region.

Modi's 'One Earth, One Family' Vision

'Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', India remains committed to building a healthier, more inclusive and resilient BIMSTEC region,' Nadda said, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He also invoked Modi's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policy frameworks as guiding principles for India's regional health diplomacy.

Nadda's Arrival and Bilateral Engagements

Nadda arrived in Colombo on Tuesday and was received by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha. On the sidelines of the meeting, he expressed intent to engage bilaterally with counterparts from BIMSTEC member nations to advance shared public health priorities and foster greater regional healthcare collaboration.

Why This Meeting Matters

The BIMSTEC grouping — comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan — covers a combined population of over 1.7 billion people, many of whom face overlapping public health challenges including communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and disaster-related health emergencies. This inaugural ministerial-level health meeting signals a structural deepening of BIMSTEC's agenda beyond trade and connectivity. Notably, it comes amid post-pandemic momentum globally to institutionalise regional health preparedness frameworks. India's offer to anchor the Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar — home to the World Health Organization's Global Centre for Traditional Medicine — adds institutional credibility to the pledge.