India, Ghana Explore Health & Digital Cooperation as Jaishankar Links Accra Reset with Ayushman Bharat

Both countries are looking to expand cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital development, according to Jaishankar.

India and Ghana have identified common ground in healthcare and digital development, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar drawing parallels between Ghana’s Accra Reset initiative and India’s Ayushman Bharat programme.

The comparison has highlighted opportunities for the two Global South partners to share experiences and strengthen cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals.

Jaishankar made the remarks after meeting Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during his first visit to Ghana, as part of a three-nation tour of African countries.

He also held discussions with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on strengthening bilateral ties.

The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Ghana in July 2025, the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in three decades.

Jaishankar said both countries face comparable development challenges and have introduced programmes addressing similar priorities.

Referring to Ghana’s Accra Reset initiative, he said, "So whether it is a programme like Accra Reset, which deals with health, we have something similar in Ayushman Bharat."

He added that the similarities between the two countries’ initiatives provide a basis for exchanging knowledge and identifying areas where they can support each other.

Both countries are looking to expand cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital development, according to Jaishankar.

These areas offer opportunities to exchange experiences in health service delivery, pharmaceutical development and the use of digital technologies to support public services.

India’s Ayushman Bharat initiative includes measures to expand healthcare access and strengthen health service delivery.

Its components include Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for comprehensive primary healthcare and the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which provides eligible families with health coverage for hospitalisation.

Ghana’s Accra Reset initiative has placed health among its development priorities.

However, the remarks did not specify any joint implementation plans or agreements directly linking the two initiatives.

Jaishankar said the two countries could build on their established partnership to strengthen resilience and promote inclusive growth.

Beyond healthcare, Jaishankar pointed to parallels between Ghana’s Feed Ghana programme and India’s initiatives focused on farmers’ prosperity and food security.

He also cited Ghana’s goal of developing one million coders alongside India’s Digital India and Startup India programmes.

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