India and Russia on Friday signed a wide-ranging agreement to deepen cooperation in healthcare, medical education and scientific research, reinforcing bilateral ties in the health sector during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s State visit to India.
The agreement was concluded between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Russia’s Ministry of Health, a ministry official said. The pact aims to expand collaboration across several critical areas of public health and medical science.
According to the official, the agreement covers cooperation in healthcare system management, professional training of medical personnel, prevention and control of diseases, and maternal and child health. It also places emphasis on the use of digital technologies to strengthen healthcare delivery systems in both countries.
The pact further includes provisions for joint research initiatives, regulation of medicines and medical devices, and coordinated efforts to address antimicrobial resistance. These measures are intended to promote knowledge-sharing and strengthen regulatory alignment between the two nations.
As part of the agreement, both sides will facilitate the exchange of regulatory information and enable the movement of healthcare professionals, researchers and students between institutions in India and Russia. The pact also encourages participation in international scientific forums and collaborative research activities.
The ministry official said that detailed activity programmes will be prepared under the framework of the agreement to operationalise cooperation in identified priority areas. These programmes are expected to guide joint initiatives and ensure structured implementation of commitments.
To oversee progress, the agreement provides for the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Healthcare Cooperation. The group will monitor implementation, review outcomes and identify additional areas for collaboration. It is mandated to meet annually, with meetings alternating between India and Russia.
The ministry said the agreement reflects a shared commitment by both countries to improve public health outcomes and leverage respective strengths in medical science, healthcare delivery and innovation. It added that the pact lays the groundwork for expanding bilateral cooperation in the coming years.
A day earlier, Union Health Minister JP Nadda held bilateral discussions with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko. The two ministers reviewed existing cooperation in the health sector and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare.
The high-level engagement took place during President Vladimir Putin’s two-day State visit to India. The visit marked Putin’s first trip to India since the onset of Russia’s war with Ukraine in 2022, underscoring the continued engagement between New Delhi and Moscow across strategic sectors, including healthcare.
