Forging Victoria's healthcare relationship with India

The State Government of Victoria, Australia, will play a major role in supporting India's healthcare sector, as part of the state's commitment to strengthening Indian-Victorian relationships.

Victoria's Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Jill Hennessy, visited India in May to meet with the leaders in health services, health education, research, and government.

A workshop will be held in Melbourne later this year on Indian-Victorian healthcare engagement as a result of the Minister's visit. It will focus on developing and training our health workforces, and strengthening relationships between the two healthcare systems - to give Victorians and citizens of the international partners better health outcomes worldwide.

The Minister's trip was important in developing the Victorian Government's new India strategy, and in applying Victoria's International Health Strategy 2016-2020, which will grow Victoria as a global leader in healthcare goods and services, health education and medical research.

With the support of the Victorian Government business office and Australian High Commission, the Minister travelled to New Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad - to promote Victoria's healthcare system and explore opportunities to collaborate with India into the future.

The Minister also participated in a digital health roundtable with leaders in the field from Australia and India, where she presented on the growing importance of digital health as a key pillar in efforts to improve healthcare.

"We are getting on with developing healthcare partnerships that will create jobs, grow the economy and deliver better health outcomes at home and in India. Victoria's medical research and technology is among the best in the world. We look forward to collaborating more closely with India to manage future healthcare challenges and be on the forefront of medical innovation," said Hennessy.