Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda held a meeting in November with Norwegian Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre to discuss India’s priorities and the evolving scope of bilateral cooperation. The meeting centred on digital health, human resource development, maternal and child nutrition, and collaborative research across critical disease areas. Nadda proposed signing new Memoranda of Understanding to deepen cooperation in health, medicine, and drug regulation. He later shared that he looked forward to advancing the partnership and strengthening the long-standing ties between both nations’ healthcare ecosystems.

Warm Diplomatic Reception

Norway’s Ambassador to India, May Elin Stener, welcomed Vestre to New Delhi and highlighted the significance of his engagements. In a video shared on X, Vestre expressed delight at returning to India, recalling his earlier visits as Norway’s Minister of Trade. He emphasised his focus on strengthening collaboration in health and care services and noted that he was excited to participate in the Bengaluru Tech Summit, where he intended to meet partners shaping the future of healthcare, technology, and innovation. Ambassador Stener added that the visit included high-level interactions, discussions on digital health, and participation in major technology platforms.

Reviewing a Long-Standing Initiative

The meeting followed the annual review of the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI), held in October and co-chaired by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Ambassador Stener. The discussion focused on approving the 2025 Progress Report and work plans for 2025–26 under Phase IV. NIPI was established through a bilateral agreement to support India’s National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals, and continues to provide strategic and catalytic support to the National Health Mission in Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Strengthening Institutional Collaboration

During the review, Srivastava underlined the importance of convergence across government frameworks and highlighted India’s role as a productive testing ground for innovation. She reaffirmed India’s commitment to sharing best practices and ensuring scalable models for broader adoption. Ambassador Stener noted that next year would mark twenty years of the partnership and praised the significant interventions made through the initiative. She also observed that India has invested twenty-six times the amount contributed by Norway, underscoring the priority placed on jointly strengthening health systems.

A Vision for the Future

With three phases completed and the fourth underway, NIPI now plays a central role in supporting India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Health Missions of partner states. The sustained cooperation and the latest ministerial discussions reaffirm the commitment of both nations to advance technology-driven, equitable, and resilient health systems for future generations.