India and the Netherlands have formalized their commitment to cooperate on medical product regulation and improve the quality of healthcare services through a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) signed in The Hague, Netherlands. This collaborative effort was announced during a meeting between Bhagwant Khuba, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sports of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The signing of the MoI took place as part of a broader engagement between the two nations. A high-level delegation from India, led by Minister Khuba, is currently in the Netherlands to participate in the second World Local Production Forum (WLPF) meeting, scheduled to be held in The Hague from November 6 to 8, 2023. The World Local Production Platform was established under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate increased access to essential medicines and health technologies.
In addition to the MoI signing, Minister Khuba made notable visits during his trip to the Netherlands. One of the key highlights was his visit to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), where he engaged with Carla van Rooijen, the Director of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology Division. The discussions revolved around regulatory aspects of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries, with an emphasis on ensuring patient safety and the quality of medical products.
During his stay, Minister Khuba also explored opportunities for collaboration in the energy sector, particularly in the field of hydrogen production and transportation. His visit to the Port of Rotterdam, renowned as Europe's largest port, offered an excellent platform to discuss Rotterdam's hydrogen hub plans. The Netherlands, and in particular Rotterdam, is well-positioned to become a hub for hydrogen production, aligning with India's Green Hydrogen Mission. Minister Khuba shared India's vision to become a global leader in the Green Hydrogen sector, emphasizing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Further emphasizing the importance of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, Minister Khuba visited Bilthoven Biologicals, a subsidiary of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group and one of the world's largest vaccine producers. This visit underlined India's commitment to fostering global collaborations in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.
This cooperative effort will contribute to the global goal of improving access to essential medical products and technologies, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare systems in India and the Netherlands.
