Both India and Sri Lanka have decided to expand cooperation in medical and healthcare sector. To this effect, J P Nadda, Union health and family welfare minister, government of India met with Rajitha Senaratne, minister of health and indigenous medicine, government of Sri Lanka and discussed various issues related to increasing cooperation between the two countries in the healthcare sector.

As part of this, Union health minister focussed on India’s strengths in generic and traditional medicines and highlighted the need for increased cooperation between the two countries to contain the spread of evolving deadly viral diseases like Ebola and Swine flu.

In fact, cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceutical sector between India and Sri Lanka was started during the year 2012. During that time India had offered to set up a pharma hub in Sri Lanka, as part of its bilateral relationship with the island nation.  Both Sri Lanka and India had jointly appointed a high level bilateral task force to implement the Indian proposals in order to increase bilateral trade from $5 billion to $10 billion by the end of 2015.

Very soon both the governments are expected to sign Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) during the next South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting that is expected to be held in New Delhi. “We are in the process of finalising the drafts of cooperation in healthcare and pharma with Sri Lanka. Very soon MoUs will be signed between the two countries,” informed a source in the health ministry.

It is also understood that cooperation between India and Sri Lanka has been continuing since long even when there is no formal MoU or agreement. Particularly in the healthcare segment India has been assisting Sri Lanka in areas like upgrading the medical facilities in Jaffna Teaching Hospital and district hospitals in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu. A 200-bed ward complex at the General Hospital Vavuniya and a 150-bed hospital in Dickoya are also near completion.

Both ministers have also discussed on issues related to import of bio-similar products. It is also understood that both sides have agreed to resolve the issues, if any, amicably through mutual consultations.