COVID-19: India’s Modi addresses CoWin summit today

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the CoWin Global Conclave today where India will be offering the platform as a digital means for other countries to run their CCOVID-19 vaccination drives.

  While India has been running its vaccination drive since January using the CoWin platform where users can book vaccine slots as per their location and age, about 50 other countries have shown interest in using the platform.

  These countries include Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and Uganda, who have shown interest in adopting CoWin to run their vaccination drives.

  This was disclosed by, the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), Dr RS Sharma while adding that India is ready to share the open-source software for free.

  “We are elated to announce that Hon’ble PM @narendramodi would be sharing his thoughts on #CoWINGlobalConclave as India offers #CoWIN as a digital public good to the world to combat #COVID19,” the NHA said in a tweet.

  According to Sharma, Modi has directed officials to create an open-source version of CoWin and give it to any country that wants it for free.

  Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan will inaugurate the virtual conclave, while others expected to speak at the event include Foreign Secretary HV Shringla, Union Health Secretary, Rajesh Bhushan and Sharma.

  The virtual meet will see participation from health and technology experts representing countries from across the globe. The conclave aims to share India’s experience with regard to universal vaccination to fight COVID-19 through CoWin, the NHA said in a statement posted on its website.

  India developed CoWin as the central information technology (IT) system for strategising, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Covid vaccination. Recently, many countries have shown interest in using the platform, the NHA said.

  “India is excited to join hands with the world to win over COVID-19 together with CoWin.

  Join us as we unfold the story behind the development of a scalable, inclusive and open platform called CoWIN, the tech backbone of India’s vaccination drive,” it said.

  It will be recalled that the virtual conclave is a joint initiative by the Union Ministries of Health, External Affairs and the NHA.