Prime Minister Narendra Modi with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other leaders at G20 Summit in Brazil.

PM Modi pledges support to WHO chief 'Tulsi Bhai' for global health efforts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India will strengthen global efforts toward a healthy planet, as he responded to the WHO chief thanking for investment support.

by · India Today

In Short

  • PM Modi emphasises integrating technology in health initiatives
  • Promises India's efforts for the global health sector
  • WHO chief thanks PM Modi for funding support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is actively working in the health sector, giving high priority to integrating technology. Responding to a tweet from the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whom he called 'Tulsi Bhai', the Prime Minister also pledged to strengthen global efforts in public health.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and other world leaders for their funding support in the Investment Round of the United Nations' health agency. He remarked, "Investment in WHO is an investment in global health security".

Resharing this, PM Modi tweeted,“Dear Tulsi Bhai, A healthy planet is a better planet. India is working actively in this sector".

"We are attaching great priority to integrating technology too. At the same time, we will strengthen global efforts in this regard," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi first called Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 'Tulsi Bhai' during the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in 2022. Tedros later mentioned that he appreciated being called 'Tulsi Bhai'.

The WHO's Investment Round aims to raise funds its strategy for global health, the Fourteenth General Programme of Work, which can save an additional 40 million lives over the next four years, according to the agency. The first-ever Investment Round reached a culminating moment during the G20 Leaders' Summit today in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, attended by Prime Minister Modi.

The G20 leaders' declaration reaffirmed the WHO's central role in global health governance, emphasising the need for stable and transparent financing. They also backed the WHO Investment Round as a means to secure additional funding for the organisation's activities.