India and Cuba signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the health
sector, here today. Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family
Welfare and Dr Roberto Tomas Morales Ojeda, Public Health Minister of Cuba
signed the MoU in the presence of senior officers from the Health Ministry and
a high level delegation from Cuba.
Terming it historic, Shri
J P Nadda stated that the relations between Cuba and India are historical and
based on shared values of equality and justice, common aspirations and
convergence of interests on global issues.
Shri Nadda further
stated that the MOU on cooperation in the field of health and Medicine between India
and Cuba is important for exchanges in the health sector and to develop
institutional framework for cooperation in the health sector between the two
countries. “One potential area is Pharmaceutical and biotechnology. Cuba has
made remarkable strides in the field of bio-Technology and pharmaceuticals. We
need to encourage greater institutional collaborations for joint production of
medicines on commercial basis,” Shri Nadda elaborated. He also suggested that a
Joint Working Group be formed for implementation of the MoU.
The objective of this MoU
is to establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional
cooperation between the two countries in the field of health by pooling
technical, scientific, financial and human resources with the ultimate goal of
upgrading the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural
resources involved in health care, medical education & training, and
research in both countries.
The main areas of
cooperation include:
·
Exchange
& training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and
experts
·
Assistance
in development of human resources, health services and setting up of health
care facilities
·
Short
term training of human resources in health
·
Regulation
of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and Exchange of Information;
·
Promotion
of business development opportunities in pharmaceuticals and others identified
by parties
·
Procurement
of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of
·
drug
supplies;
·
Procurement
of health equipment and pharmaceutical products;
·
Any
other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.
·
Procurement
of health equipment and pharmaceutical products;
·
Collaboration
in the prevention of NCDs of mutual interest, such as neurocardiovascular
diseases, cancer, COPDs, mental health and dementia, with an eMphasis on SDG3
and related factors;
·
Collaboration
in the field of climate change impact on communicable diseases and vector borne
diseases;
·
Nutritional
aspects of food intake, including malnutrition (over-nutrition and under-nutrition)
in the light of the SDG2 and organization of nutritional services;
·
Safety
of production, transformation, distribution and food delivery;
·
Research
and training of food industry operators;
·
Information
and communication to citizens on hygiene and Food Safety and healthy eating habits;
and
·
Any
other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.
*****
MV/SK
