**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 946, answered on July 25, 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed inquiries regarding bilateral meetings and agreements aimed at strengthening international cooperation in the health sector. The Ministry confirmed that India has engaged in bilateral interactions with various foreign countries, including Italy and Cuba, over the past ten years to enhance cooperation in the health sector. To formalize these collaborations, the Ministry has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 59 countries, including Italy and Cuba. These MoUs establish a framework for cooperation, primarily through the formation of Joint Working Groups (JWGs) comprising experts from both countries. The JWGs focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as human resources skilling and exchange, collaboration in the pharmaceutical sector (including regulatory practices), collaborative research and development, health programs addressing maternal and child health, communicable diseases, health emergencies, non-communicable diseases, digital health technologies, and traditional medicine. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Italy: A European country with which India has held bilateral meetings and signed MoUs for health cooperation.
Cuba: A Caribbean country with which India has held bilateral meetings and signed MoUs for health cooperation.
Memorandum of Understanding: Formal agreements signed with 59 countries, including Italy and Cuba, to encourage joint health initiatives.
Joint Working Group: A group of experts formed as per the MoUs to strengthen cooperation between countries in identified areas.
SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
Bilateral Meetings: Meetings held between India and other countries to strengthen cooperation in the health sector.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 946
TO BE ANSWEREDON25TH JULY, 2025
BILATERALMEETINGS TOSTRENGTHEN COOPERATION INHEALTH
SECTOR
946.SHRISHYAMKUMAR DAULATBARVE:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether India has held any bilateral meetings with Italy, Cuba and some other
countriestostrengthen cooperation inhealthsector during the last tenyears;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the issues discussed during the said meetings
with eachof these countriesduring the last tenyears; and
(c) the number of countries with which India has signed the Memorandum of
Understanding/cooperation agreements to encourage joint health initiatives in capacity
building, training, exchange of information and technical support in establishing
laboratories?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertakes bilateral interactions with
foreign countries including Italy and Cuba to enhance the cooperation between the
countriesinhealthsector.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU)
with 59countriesincludingItalyandCuba inhealth sector.
As per MoU with these countriesa Joint WorkingGroup (JWG) of experts isformed which
deliberates towards strengthening cooperation between the countries in identified areas
such as human resources skilling and exchange, cooperation in pharmaceutical sector
including regulatory practices, collaborative research and development, health programs
such as maternal health, child health, communicable diseases, health emergencies, non-
communicablediseases, digitalhealth technologiesandtraditionalmedicine.
*****