PM moots special visa scheme for medical staff

India has mooted an ambitious regional cooperation plan for seamless movement of doctors, nurses and air ambulances between countries of SAARC and Indian Ocean Region during medical emergencies noting that greater integration was critical to making the 21st century an Asian century.
Addressing a workshop on ‘COVID-19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward’ with nine neighbouring nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked experts to consider creating a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses so that they can travel quickly within the region during health emergencies, on the request of the receiving country.
The workshop was an extension of a similar effort PM Modi made in March 2020 when he addressed a SAARC gathering and mooted a regional COVID response fund making an initial contribution of USD 10 million.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with 7 founding members.
SAARC now comprises eight Member States: Afghanistan (joined in 2007), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Secretariat of the Association is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The objectives of the Association include promotion of welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.
Decisions at all levels are to be taken on the basis of unanimity; and bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of the Association.

The SAARC COVID-19 emergency fund was proposed by India in March 2020 when Mr. Modi had convened a virtual conference.
India had pledged US $10 million to start the fund, the others, including Pakistan committed about $9.8 million together, and the SAARC secretariat committed $5 million to the fund.
Thus far, India has sent medical equipment worth US$ 1 million to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives as a part of its contribution.

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