Under Operation Dost, India has sent search and rescue teams, mainly three teams of the National Disaster Response Force, field hospitals, materials, medicines, and equipment to Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquakes
The changing global order is facing the wrath of calamities never seen at such catastrophic scales. The Covid-19 pandemic turned out to be a black swan event for the world. However, on the contrary, experts have already claimed that such unseen adversities will recur every century with more intensity now. So, where does this leave us? Is the world ready to combat these unforeseen forms of setbacks?
Indian Roadmap: A rising formidable force against disasters
India has gone the extra mile to rise above such events. It not only overcame these life-threatening incidents itself but also assisted the world to defeat these circumstances. The Covid-19 saga showed a different and confident side of India and changed the attitude of the world. Life altering lessons were learnt during this period.
During the Turkiye’s devastating earthquakes, India was one of the first responders who went above and beyond to render humanitarian aid under the . This is concrete evidence that India is a credible trendsetter and a serious player who is constantly looking out for ways to be a step ahead of such sufferings.
Economic Times (ET) reported that India recently has proposed to create a global pool for health professionals to combat such pandemics and natural calamities. It has also sought country-level regulations for cross-border telemedicine services in a submission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Indian proposal suggested that these internationally recognised professionals may be granted special mobility rights or exemptions from general movement restrictions so that they can be deployed promptly in coordination with the relevant international organisations. ET said it has seen a copy of the submission.
India said this collective burden-sharing arrangement would be in the spirit of international solidarity during situations of pandemics and natural disasters. However, it is a big task as it involves skill mapping, increasing supplies by temporarily relaxing regimes at both regional global levels.
It is necessary to bring everyone on the same page. Development of a multilateral framework for the recognition of professional qualifications with relevant organisations, etc. It is a demanding assignment but an effective one if materialised. India said “ It is both ethically desirable and practically conceivable”.
WTO rules and provisions can facilitate such a pool of healthcare professionals and set up international standards and criteria for relevant trades and professionals.
Developing cross-order Telemedicine
India is pursuing an expedited conclusion of mutual recognition agreements, creation of an international registry of recognised health establishments and temporary relaxation of recognition norms to address the urgent pandemic-like situations.
India also stated that, “Web or app-based medical appointments and consultations are typically not covered by medical insurance programmes. Such reimbursement schemes need to be introduced for cross-border telemedicine.”
This is a work in progress. Major outline of the framework is visionary and a long-term goal to achieve. The globalised and an interdependent multipolar world requires support from all the countries and existing multilateral organisations around the world for a sustainable shared future and against the common enemy.
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