Sweden launches life science & healthcare platform in India

Sweden today launched a life science and healthcare platform in India with an aim to promote sustainable best practises in the sector.
The platform will be an amalgamation of ideas within the Swedish model of healthcare - Symbiocare, Health by Sweden and best practises in India.
"It is a start, and we will engage all the stakeholders to meet the challenges of healthcare in India. We will act as a facilitator," Ambassador of Sweden in India Harald Sandberg told PTI.
Stressing on the need for such a partnership between the two countries, he said: "Health is an important area where India and Sweden have growing interest and there is a mutual intention to strengthen the bilateral ties and form strategic alliances."

The platform has been launched to further strengthen the existing memorandum of understanding in the field of healthcare and public health between the two countries signed in 2009.
Sandberg said healthcare system in Sweden is primarily public. It is funded by government through taxes but it is fairly decentralised.

"We have a national insurance system which covers everybody," he added.
Emphasising the close collaboration between the two countries, Sandberg said directly and indirectly around 6 lakh people are employed in India by the Swedish industry.
On the role that the Nordic country could play, Trade Commissioner of Sweden to India Anna Liberg said: "Sweden's history and results of inclusive care fits very well with India's ambition of care for the many. Sweden can further contribute to Indian with its innovative, preventive and continuous improvement focused healthcare system."

At present 1,50,000 jobs are created in India by Swedish industry, she added.
The platform will serve as a key interface between the various stakeholders in a the Swedish and Indian healthcare system.
The structure of the platform is built on the triple- helix model, an active interplay between government, academia and private enterprise, a statement by Swedish embassy said.