Modi promises locally-made Covid-19 vaccine for all Indians

[NEW DELHI] India has three Covid-19 vaccines under trial and will ensure a vaccine reaches every citizen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, paying tribute to those fighting the coronavirus pandemic that's surging across India.

Mr Modi also announced a National Digital Health Mission to bolster India's health-care system that's expected to include the digitisation of health records, as well as a registry of doctors and health facilities across the country.

Every Indian will be given a health ID, Mr Modi said, while addressing the nation on India's Independence Day from the ramparts of New Delhi's 17th-century Red Fort on Saturday.

"Every test, every health issue, every prescription and reports will be included in this health ID," Mr Modi said. "All problems around fixing appointment and making payments will be resolved through the new health mission."

He also reiterated his plan to make India a global manufacturing hub, noting even during the coronavirus pandemic, foreign direct investment grew by 18 per cent and companies were still looking to invest in the nation.

GLOBAL HUB

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"This confidence has developed because India worked on its democracy, on policies and on the strengthening the foundation of its democracy," Mr Modi said. "Many businesses across India are looking at India as a centre for their supply chains."

The South Asian nation's main focus will be the creation of a pipeline of national infrastructure projects worth more than 110 trillion rupees (S$2 trillion), Mr Modi said. "Now along with Make in India, we will have to move ahead with the mantra of Make for World."

This year's event has been truncated because of social distancing norms. School children, normally present at the celebration, were not included and the guest list is much shorter than in previous years, according to the defense ministry which organises the day's events.

All the guests were seated at least six feet apart and the ceremonial military drills also maintained social distancing norms.

BLOOMBERG