Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is currently on an official tour to Bangladesh capital Dhaka in connection with the International Conference on “Evidence for Action: South-South Collaboration for ICPD beyond 2014” organized jointly by Partners in Population and Development (PPD) and Bangladesh and also for attending PPD governance meetings, called on Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh at her residence this morning.
Recalling the close and historical ties between the two countries, he stated that there are very few countries in the world whose destinies are so intrinsically interlinked as India and Bangladesh.
Mr Azad said that two countries shared common cultural, economic and political history besides longest land borders with each other and same religious beliefs, language, customs and aspirations. These are the factors, which encourage cooperation in every possible area, he added.
The recently concluded year-long joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was cited as a testimony of shared cultural ethos and heritage between India and Bangladesh.
Mr Azad congratulated Sheikh Hasina for her astute statesmanship and accomplishments in leading Bangladesh towards steady growth, continued progress and prosperity and appreciated her keen interest in health.
The meeting lasted for more than 45 minutes during which several issues related to health were discussed. Mr Azad informed that India and Bangladesh are set to usher in an era of much closer cooperation in the field of health and medicine.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bangladesh has been mutually agreed upon and is being put up for approval of the Cabinet in India. The MoU covers several areas of cooperation, which include exchange of medical doctors, other health professionals, development of human resources, medical and health research development, regulations, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics.
Mr Azad further informed that the signing of the MoU will give a formal structure to undertake specific collaborative projects for mutual benefit, including short and long term training of medical professionals, research projects, medicines and devices. He stated that traditional medicine could be another area of cooperation, which would benefit people of both countries.
He informed that India will be hosting the second conference of SAAN on 28th and 29th January, 2013 and extended an invitation to Prime Minister to visit India to attend the conference as a special guest. He stated that it would be an opportune time for India and Bangladesh to sign the MoU in health and medicine to further strengthen the close ties between the two countries.
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