Prime Highlights:
- India and Norway are strengthening their healthcare partnership with discussions focused on digital Health, research, and drug regulation.
- Both nations expressed commitment to expanding cooperation through new MoUs aimed at boosting health systems and medical collaboration.
Key Facts:
- The Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) is currently in Phase IV and is active in Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir.
- In October, officials from both countries reviewed the 2025 progress report and approved the work plan for 2025–26 to further support health system strengthening and maternal-child health.
Background:
India and Norway are strengthening their health ties as Norway’s Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre met with India’s Health Minister J. P. Nadda and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi. The talks focused on working together more in digital health, research, and drug regulation.
During the meeting, Nadda suggested signing new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to boost joint work in health systems, medical areas, and regulatory processes. He noted that the dialogue also covered India’s priorities in digital health, human resource development, maternal and child nutrition, and joint research on emerging diseases.
Vestre’s visit reflects Norway’s strong interest in deepening its partnership with India in the health sector. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also met him and pointed to new opportunities for cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and technology to make medical services more accessible and affordable.
This collaboration continues under the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI), which has already completed three phases and is now in its fourth. NIPI supports India’s National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals by providing technical expertise to the Union Health Ministry and the National Health Mission.
In October, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Norway’s Ambassador May-Elin Stener chaired NIPI’s yearly review meeting. They reviewed the progress made for 2025 and approved the plans for 2025–26 under Phase IV.
NIPI is currently active in Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir, where it supports stronger health services and better care for mothers and children.
These meetings show that both countries are committed to working together to improve healthcare and public health.
