The bilateral meeting occurred on the sideline of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Wednesday.
Secretary of Department of Health & Human Services Alex Azar met with Jagat Prakash Nadda, India’s Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Wednesday.
Nadda tweeted that he had a productive discussion with Azar about taking the US-India cooperation in mental health to the next level and sharing technologies that can help reduce the treatment gaps.
The minister said he discussed the possibility of considering yoga as an alternative therapy for patients suffering from autism spectrum disorder and drug abusers.
“Met Health & Human Services Secretary, USA Mr. @SecAzar . India would like to cooperate with U.S. on mental health, linkages between other #NCDs, exploit technology to bridge treatment gaps & explore Yoga as alternative therapy for drug abuse & autism spectrum disorders,” tweeted Nadda.
The annual World Health Assembly , which began on May 21, concludes on Saturday. Attended by delegations from all member states of WHO, it is the decision-making body of world body and it focuses on health agenda of the organization.
Nadda, who is leading the Indian delegation to the assembly, conveyed the vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end tuberculosis by 2025 in his address to the conference.
The Indian delegation also introduced TrueNat TB test, a new molecular test that can diagnosis TB in one hour as well as testing for resistance to the drug rifampicin.
During his remarks, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom mentioned India’s Universal Health Coverage scheme during his speech.
On Thursday, the final day of his participation at the assembly, Azar addressed the Geneva Press Club “universal health coverage.” He said that “every nation is unique and that avenues to making healthcare accessible to citizens will differ and often include a mix of public and private systems with the private sector in many cases able to provide more responsive services with greater efficiencies,” according to an official readout.
The secretary made his assembly plenary remarks on Tuesday.