Regional health cooperation receives a boost with approval of Revised Plan of Action (2026–2030); Member States agree to establish a BIMSTEC Centre for Traditional Medicine in India
New Delhi /Colombo : Sri Lanka successfully hosted the First BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo on November 11, 2026, marking an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation in healthcare, traditional medicine and preventive health services among BIMSTEC member countries.
The meeting brought renewed focus on collective efforts to address regional health priorities, strengthen institutional cooperation and promote collaboration in healthcare systems across the Bay of Bengal region.
An important outcome of the meeting was the agreement among all Member States to establish the BIMSTEC Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, India. The proposed centre is expected to provide a platform for promoting traditional medicine, encouraging knowledge exchange and strengthening preventive healthcare practices across the region.
The initiative also reflects India’s commitment to sharing its experience and expertise in traditional systems of medicine with BIMSTEC partner countries and encouraging greater regional cooperation in this important area.
Another significant outcome was the approval of the Revised Plan of Action (2026–2030), which will provide a framework for advancing cooperation in the health sector over the next five years.
The plan is expected to strengthen collective efforts among member countries through greater coordination, knowledge sharing and collaboration on common healthcare priorities.
The successful organisation of the inaugural meeting by Sri Lanka and the consensus on these key initiatives underline the growing importance of health cooperation within the BIMSTEC framework.
With the proposed Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar and the Revised Plan of Action (2026–2030), BIMSTEC countries have taken an important step towards strengthening regional healthcare partnerships, promoting traditional medicine and advancing preventive healthcare for the benefit of people across the region.