India's health policy landscape is evolving rapidly, shaped by global challenges, national priorities, and growing expectations for equitable care. As the country expands its role in global health diplomacy, it must balance domestic needs with international collaboration across multiple domains of healthcare. This symposium explores how health diplomacy and policy-making intersect in the Indian context, emphasizing key areas such as vaccine diplomacy, mental health, pandemic preparedness, and health system strengthening.
India's international engagements particularly during the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the power of vaccine diplomacy as a tool for regional solidarity and soft power. Simultaneously, the pandemic brought renewed attention to mental health, exposing systemic gaps in access, awareness, and policy responsiveness. While vaccines became a symbol of India's global leadership, mental health emerged as a critical public health challenge requiring both domestic reform and international cooperation.
This symposium seeks to address these dual realities by bringing together stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem—policy makers, public health experts, mental health professionals, diplomats, and development partners. Discussions will explore India's role in shaping global health agendas, while critically examining national policy frameworks such as Ayushman Bharat and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. By integrating mental health into broader health diplomacy conversations, the symposium underscores the need for inclusive, culturally grounded, and rights-based approaches to health policy. It aims to generate actionable insights that inform a more resilient, equitable, and diplomatically engaged Indian healthcare system.