India backs Australia-EU draft at WHO's world health meet

India has backed the Australia-EU draft to be adopted at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) -- which will start on Monday.

India is among the 62 countries backing the draft which calls for "impartial, independent and comprehensive" probe into the coronavirus crisis.

The draft says, "Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from theWHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19, including (i) the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO’s disposal."

The draft resolution is backed by Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Moldova, Russia, San Marino , Sierra Leone, South Africa, EU, Turkey, Ukraine, UK and Zambia.

The meeting will take place virtually and India's health minister will represent the country. He is expected to address the meet at 3.30 pm IST. 

WHO's WHA is the top body of the UN organ and is made up of health ministers.

The meeting this year has assumed significance due to the coronavirus crisis. But Taiwan's participation in the meet is another issue that is getting the limelight. 

China, which considers Taiwan as its part, has not allowed it to participate as a country and voting will hence decide whether it should or should not.

While New Delhi is yet to take a position, Taiwan's envoy to India, Chung-Kwang Tien, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that as a "valued partner", India will "appreciate Taiwan's rights" on participation at the WHA meet which is the "shared aspiration of the people of Taiwan".

"Participating in WHO is the common aspiration of all people of Taiwan.  I would like to expresses sincere appreciation for the unprecedented level of support extended to Taiwan’s campaign for participation in the World Health Organization by diplomatic allies and like-minded nations," he added.

India will take over the Chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation after its annual meeting later this month.