The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of the medical facilities and the key role played by doctors and frontline workers when any pandemic hits. Several underdeveloped nations and low-income nations found it difficult in tackling the situation.
Taking the experience into consideration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed the idea to provide special visas for doctors and nurses to counter future pandemic situations. He also suggested the idea to provide regional air ambulance service for medical professionals.
The Prime Minister made these suggestions at a workshop that was organised by India. The health officials and experts from the eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Mauritius and Seychelles were invited to the workshop.
The workshop was held virtually on the theme “Covid-19 Management: Experience, good practices and way forward”.Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Seychelles were among the nations that were invited to the workshop.
The Prime Minister has batted for the proposal to create a new visa scheme for the medical professionals and nurses which provides a facility for them to travel within the region quickly during pandemic-like situations.
It is said that the nations that took part in the workshop, including Pakistan have extended their support to five measures proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other than Pakistan, the countries which received vaccines, medicines, and other medical equipment have thanked India for supporting them in the pandemic situation, reports claimed.
Without taking Pakistan’s name, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “After all, we share so many common challenges – climate change, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy, and social and gender imbalances-but we also share the power of centuries-old cultural and people-to-people linkages. If we focus on all that unites us, our region can overcome not only the present pandemic but our other challenges too.”
Barring Pakistan, which hasn’t requested vaccines from India, the other participating countries thanked India for supplies of vaccines, medicines, and equipment amid the pandemic, the people said.