A Shared Regional Agenda
The discussions revolved around how health research can directly address regional priorities such as infectious diseases, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and pandemic preparedness. Countries agreed to pool expertise and resources in areas including medical technology innovation, epidemiology training, and ethics in health research. The joint declaration emphasized that no nation can face these challenges alone and that South–South collaboration is key to success.
India’s Role in MedTech Innovation
Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, underlined India’s leadership in health research and medical technology. “India today stands at the forefront of scientific research and innovation for health,” he noted, urging partner nations to actively engage with India’s open innovation platforms to accelerate affordable MedTech solutions. This vision, he said, would not only boost regional health security but also foster economic growth.
Commitment to Science Diplomacy
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director-General of ICMR, reaffirmed India’s commitment to science diplomacy. He stressed that partnerships in research must serve people directly. “South–South collaboration remains a priority through joint projects and capacity building to ensure that the region benefits from each other’s expertise,” he said during the concluding session.
Consensus on Collaboration
The participating nations reached several key agreements:
- South–South Collaboration: Regional cooperation to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), NCDs, and emerging infectious threats.
- Pooling Resources: Joint initiatives in medical innovation, field epidemiology, quality assurance, and ethics.
- Policy Linkages: Establishing formal channels to ensure research evidence informs government programmes.
- Capacity Building: Structured exchange visits, training sessions, and joint programmes in research methods, grant writing, and science communication.
ICMR also offered to share its tools and resources — including common ethics review forms and free online training — so that countries at early stages of developing research systems can adapt them efficiently.
Looking Ahead
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to move beyond knowledge-sharing into action. Each country agreed to lead in specific thematic areas such as One Health, vector-borne diseases, maternal health, and pandemic preparedness. This structured collaboration is expected to pave the way for a resilient, future-ready health ecosystem across South and Southeast Asia.
