Indian reputation as ‘Pharmacy of the world’ reinforced: MEA S. Jaishankar

New Delhi: MEA S. Jaishankar said that India has bolstered its image as the pharmacy of the world by supplying vaccine for Coronavirus to 72 countries. Jaishankar gave the information regarding the supply of vaccines while speaking in the Rajya Sabha. The Indian policy of reaching the vaccine to the weaker countries has proved effective. Saying the message that at least one country in the world is trying to reach the vaccine to these countries has been delivered, Foreign Minister Jaishankar expressed satisfaction regarding this.

Leading countries of the world were looking at India with hope after the Coronavirus pandemic became stronger. The world realised that they could get major help from the Indian medical fraternity to counter the Coronavirus pandemic. The Foreign Minister pointed out that demands are being received for the supply of the vaccine for Coronavirus, developed in India. But India, who was making efforts to reach the vaccine to the weak and emerging countries, adopted a policy of supplying the vaccine sector-wise.

India started with the supply of vaccine to the neighbouring countries and later supplied the vaccine to other Asian, African and even Latin American countries. Jaishankar also pointed out that the Indian companies are collaborating with others for the supply of these vaccines. He expressed satisfaction saying that this has bolstered the Indian image as the pharmacy of the world. Not only the vaccine, the Indian supply of Hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol and other medicines to more than 150 countries during the pandemic also becomes significant. The Foreign Minister clarified that 82 out of these 150 countries received these medicines as an aid.

Meanwhile, India‘s vaccines and the generous policy to supply have caused tremendous losses to China. China is already facing criticism that the world got the Coronavirus pandemic because of China. If China had revealed the information of this epidemic in Wuhan, it could have contained the epidemic in China itself. But China kept the information under wraps for a long time. China is still unwilling to reveal the real information regarding origin of the pandemic. While China gave the pandemic to the world, India’s message is supplying vaccines and medicines to the world has been delivered.

This has brightened the Indian image on the international level. The western media, who are competing to participate in anti-India campaigns, have been forced to stand up and take note of the Indian supply of the vaccine to the world. The United Nations General Secretary also showered praises on India. Whereas, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that India is the ‘Pharmacy of the World’.