The Prime Minister of India recently proposed the idea of establishing a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses among neighboring countries during a workshop on “Covid19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward”. His recommendation was that in cases of health emergencies, medical professionals could rapidly travel throughout the region upon request by the country needing assistance. The workshop involved nine neighboring nations including Pakistan, the eight other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and Mauritius and Seychelles.
Participants and Key Proposals from the Workshop
In addition to India and Pakistan, the SAARC members include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. During the workshop, several key measures were proposed, such as creating a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses to facilitate their quick movement during health crises. Another suggestion was for the civil aviation ministries to coordinate on a regional air ambulance agreement for medical contingencies. Additional recommendations included developing a regional platform for collecting, compiling and studying data about the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines among populations; establishing a regional network to promote technology-assisted epidemiology for future pandemic prevention; and encouraging the sharing of successful public health policies and schemes.
Response from Participating Countries
With the exception of Pakistan, which has not yet requested vaccines from India, the other participating countries expressed their gratitude towards India for supplying vaccines, medicines and equipment during the pandemic. South Asia was among the first regions to recognize the threat posed by Covid-19 and committed to battling it together.
Challenges and Significance of Regional Cooperation
The region shares numerous common challenges like climate change, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy, social and gender imbalances. However, it also has the strength of centuries-old cultural and people-to-people connections. The participation of all the SAARC members, including Pakistan, signifies an opportunity to address disagreements among members and restart regional development cooperation initiatives like the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
SAARC: Struggles and Opportunities
However, SAARC has faced several issues including a lack of consensus on major decisions, tussles between countries including India-Pakistan conflicts, and the alleged domination by India. These challenges have led to increased marginalization of the organization. Yet, current efforts such as India’s contribution of USD 10 million to the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund show promising steps towards increased cooperation.
Looking Ahead
Reviving SAARC by promoting confidence-building measures among its members will support India’s neighborhood-first policy. This is particularly significant in meeting the challenge of regional strategic encroachment by China through its Belt and Road Initiative. Furthermore, continued cooperation in tackling the pandemic, such as through the proposed special visa scheme, can help reinforce these connections and shared efforts in the face of global health emergencies.
