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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on May 20, 2025, via videoconference. In his remarks, he warmly greeted the global delegates and highlighted the significance of this year’s WHA theme, “One World for Health,” noting its deep resonance with India’s long-standing philosophy of holistic and inclusive health, embodied in the vision of “One Earth, One Health.”
Reflecting on his 2023 address to the WHA, Modi reiterated that the path to a healthier world lies in ensuring inclusion, adopting an integrated perspective, and fostering cooperation across borders.
He emphasized that inclusion remains central to India’s healthcare transformation. Citing the Ayushman Bharat initiative—the world’s largest health insurance program covering over 580 million citizens—he pointed out its recent expansion to include all Indians above 70 years of age. Modi also spotlighted India’s widespread health and wellness center network, which enables early diagnosis and screening of major non-communicable diseases like cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.
The Prime Minister also outlined how India has drastically improved healthcare access and affordability. He credited the country’s growing network of public pharmacies for providing affordable, high-quality medicines. Additionally, he highlighted the transformative role of digital technology in healthcare delivery, including a national platform for tracking maternal and child vaccination and the digital health ID system that integrates patient records, insurance details, and medical benefits.
He stressed the significance of telemedicine in bridging gaps between patients and doctors in remote areas, sharing that India’s free teleconsultation platform has already supported over 340 million interactions. Modi noted that this has contributed to a marked decrease in out-of-pocket healthcare spending by individuals, while government health spending has seen a substantial rise.
Underscoring global health equity, the Prime Minister stated that the wellbeing of the world depends on our ability to safeguard its most vulnerable populations, particularly in the Global South. He affirmed India’s readiness to share its scalable, replicable, and sustainable health models with other developing nations.
Looking ahead to the 11th International Day of Yoga in June 2025, Modi encouraged countries worldwide to participate, highlighting the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” He invited the global community to celebrate Yoga’s potential to unite mind, body, and planet, reaffirming India’s pride as its birthplace.
In closing, the Prime Minister congratulated the World Health Organization (WHO) and member states on the successful negotiation of the INB treaty, which he described as a vital step towards coordinated global preparedness for future pandemics. He concluded with a timeless Vedic prayer that envisions a world where everyone is healthy, joyful, and free from disease, expressing optimism that this ancient ideal can guide collective global health efforts.
