New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI): India on Saturday dispatched a consignment of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to Fiji to support the island nation’s public health programme, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The announcement, made by the MEA in a post on X, reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening health partnerships with the Global South.
“Strengthening health partnership with the Global South. A consignment of Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs has been dispatched to Fiji to support its health program. India remains committed to supporting Fiji in its public health response and humanitarian needs,” the MEA stated.
The initiative underscores India’s role as a reliable development and humanitarian partner in the Indo-Pacific region. India and Fiji share strong historical and cultural ties, and their partnership has expanded across key sectors including health, education, renewable energy, and capacity building.
Earlier in August, India and Fiji strengthened their bilateral relations through several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering health, education, mobility, and development cooperation. During the visit of Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, both nations signed an MoU for designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining a super-specialty hospital in Fiji.
According to the MEA, the facility will enhance advanced healthcare services for Fijian citizens and reinforce India’s role in regional health cooperation. HLL Lifecare Limited and Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services have agreed to supply medicines under the Janaushadhi Scheme, promoting affordable healthcare.
In May, the two governments signed an MoU on pharmacopoeial cooperation, paving the way for opening a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Fiji. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Fiji’s Department of National Measurement and Standards (DNMS) also signed an MoU on cooperation in standardization, enhancing quality control and product reliability.
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India, and Pacific Polytech, Fiji, partnered to develop human resources through skilling and upskilling programs, according to the MEA. The Fijian side also handed over the lease deed of land for India’s chancery building in Suva, the ministry added. (ANI)
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