India & Seychelles Expand Healthcare & Pharma Cooperation Under SESEL Joint Vision

The MoU on pharmacopoeial cooperation aims to align standards for medicines and pharmaceuticals, enabling Seychelles to access quality-assured, cost-effective drugs from India.

India and Seychelles have expanded cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals by adopting the Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) Joint Vision and signing key agreements on medical standards and public health during Seychelles President Patrick Herminie’s state visit to India.

President Herminie has described India as a trusted partner in Seychelles’ development journey, while Prime Minister Modi has reiterated India’s readiness to support the island nation’s healthcare and medical priorities.

A key outcome of the talks has been the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on pharmacopoeial cooperation. The agreement aims to align standards for medicines and pharmaceuticals, enabling Seychelles to access quality-assured, cost-effective drugs from India.

This move is expected to strengthen regulatory capacity, improve medicine safety and enhance the availability of essential drugs within Seychelles’ healthcare system.

Beyond pharmaceuticals, both countries have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper public health collaboration. India has announced the gifting of 10 ambulances to Seychelles to bolster emergency medical services, addressing gaps in pre-hospital care and response capacity.

The two sides have also agreed to cooperate on public health programmes, including training initiatives and knowledge exchange, with a particular focus on building institutional and human resource capacity.

India has further committed to supporting the construction of a new hospital in Seychelles, reflecting its broader health diplomacy approach that combines infrastructure support with skills development.

This assistance is intended to improve access to secondary and tertiary care services in the island nation, reducing dependence on overseas treatment and strengthening domestic health resilience.

Moreover, India will continue to offer customised training programmes for Seychelles’ civil servants and health professionals through established mechanisms, enabling skills transfer in areas such as hospital administration, public health management and medical regulation. Such initiatives are designed to ensure that healthcare investments are sustainable and locally anchored.

The healthcare outcomes of the visit are supported by India’s broader Special Economic Package of USD 175 Mn for Seychelles, which includes grant assistance and a rupee-denominated Line of Credit.

While the package spans multiple sectors, health and access to essential commodities are critical components, underscoring India’s emphasis on people-centric development.

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