The Indian Ambassador to the country H.E. Sibi George stressed that humanity today is facing a major health crisis, with the outbreak of the new coronavirus (Covid 19) to the extent that it has made healthcare a complex challenge.
In his speech during a conference on Indian-Kuwaiti cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical industries yesterday, the Indian Ambassador George pointed out that his country played an exemplary role during the (Covid 19) pandemic, by sending valuable medicines and medical supplies to many countries from the pharmaceutical industries developed in India. This enables the country to be one of the global suppliers in this sector, with Indian drug manufacturers and distributors playing a crucial role in handling any challenge, he added.
He pointed out his country played a pioneering role in reducing the cost of medicines, especially for developing countries. “The vaccines made in India are responsible for providing two-thirds of the world’s children’s needs for vaccines today, and that is why India is called “the world’s pharmacy”, as it is the largest supplier of low-cost medicines and vaccines in the world, as it is among the largest producers of medicines by value and volume, and has the second largest number of drug factories approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the world,” he noted.
He explained that health care is likely to remain at the forefront of the world’s priorities for a long time, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic.
“In this scenario, India remains a reliable partner, which not only provides uninterrupted supplies of essential medicines, but also gives needed assistance in the form of exchange of medical expertise, treatment infrastructure and capacity building for other countries around the world,” he added.
Highlighting that India’s competitive advantage still lies in its large pool of well-trained medical professionals, some of whom serve in countries such as Kuwait, the Indian Ambassador George asserted, “India is also cost-competitive, compared to its counterparts in Asia and Western countries.”
“The cost of surgery in India is about one-tenth of that of the United States or Western Europe. India is also rapidly emerging as a destination for medical tourism and Ayurveda treatment, as it attracts a large number of visitors each year, including from countries such as Kuwait,” he added.
He said that the government of India has taken several major initiatives recently to further improve the business environment and increase the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical sector in India, which is preparing to reach new heights in the post-pandemic world when the world moves to India to make the best medicines available to hundreds of millions at affordable prices.”
Regarding the ties between Indian and Kuwait, he said, “India and Kuwait share ancient and close historical bilateral relations firmly anchored in civilizational ties and fed by vibrant popular contacts. India has long been among Kuwait’s largest trading partners and Kuwait has been one of the largest sources of Indian energy supplies.
He added that Indian brands are well known and the exceptional quality of Indian products is well recognized not only in the Kuwaiti market but also around the world.
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