During the pandemic, India earned a clear edge in the global health arena by administering the first dose of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, in January 2021. Bharat Biotech International Ltd., an Indian multinational, collaborated with the government-led Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and its renowned National Institute of Virology (NIV) to create Covaxin, an inactivated virus-based vaccine.

Within a year of the emergence of COVID, ICMR, and Bharat Biotech`s vaccine, it was validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. Yet, within a few months, along with Covishield, 96 countries recognized Covaxin as an effective shield against COVID-19.

The vaccination narrative in India proved how an otherwise difficult public-private partnership (PPP) model built on mutual respect, openness, and accountability can deliver. The pandemic created enormous prospects for medical innovation through PPPs, some of which were led and supported by organizations such as the ICMR.

For the first time in the world, the ICMR collaborated with start-up businesses to create drones to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations to inaccessible places. The first i-DRONE aircraft transported 900 doses of COVID vaccination from Manipurs Bishnupur district to a basic health care unit on an island in Loktak Lake.

These digital health efforts have provided the country with a more open and people-centered framework for addressing health goals. Additionally, the PPP approach has been used to research medications for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB since the 1990s. The PPP model provides an efficient framework for the government to use its current medical infrastructure while benefiting from the knowledge of private partners.

(Source: https://www.news18.com/opinion/indias-winning-formula-making-healthcare-affordable-and-accessible-with-ppps-7963723.html )