Outgoing Indian HC bids farewell, delivers consignment of medicine to health ministry |04 November 2016

Outgoing Indian high commissioner to Seychelles Sanjay Panda yesterday morning paid a farewell call on President Danny Faure at State House following which he delivered a consignment of medicine to the health ministry.

Mr Panda, who has served only two years and three months out of his three-year mandate, said he has been called back to New Delhi to assume new responsibilities.

But Mr Panda described the time working here as remarkable.

He described his last discussion with President Faure as cordial and an opportunity to review cooperation between our two countries which he said has continued to develop, expand to more areas and have reached greater heights over the past years.

He said it was also an opportunity for President Faure to share and discuss with him his future plans and vision for Seychelles.

Following his visit to President Faure, Mr Panda headed to the Ministry of Health where he delivered a consignment of different medication to Jean-Paul Adam, the new Minister for Health and Social Affairs. This was in the presence of senior management personnel and health professionals as well as other guests.

The consignment of medicine comprising medications on the list of essentials for the health ministry will be distributed in all health centre pharmacies and it forms part of the US $25 million grant for Seychelles announced in 2012.

Mr Panda noted that out of the grant the sum of US $8.76 million was earmarked for medicine and medical equipment of which some US $2.76 million worth of medicine have already been procured.

Mr Panda told everyone present that the remaining consignment of medicine and also the medical equipment are expected to be received by the end of March next year.

“An important component of the medicine consignment is in support of the drug rehabilitation programme of the Seychelles government,” Mr Panda said, noting that this highlights a very important chapter in the development of cooperation between Seychelles and India, more specifically in the area of health.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Seychelles, Minister Adam noted that the health and social affairs ministry is at the forefront in the fight to achieve social justice and to protect the most vulnerable in society. But he noted that when procuring medicine on the international market, it is very difficult to get a fair price because of the small size of our market and our lack of bargaining and leverage position compared to other countries.

“We often talk of Seychelles as having a very high GDP per capita and often when procuring essentials like medicine the cost per capita is also higher than in many larger countries,” Minister Adam noted.

“The fact that India is partnering with us on this key element that goes directly to support the most vulnerable and most in need members of our society is a clear sign of the strength of our cooperation and partnership,” Mr Adam pointed out.

He expressed the hope and confidence that even though Mr Panda is leaving our shores, he will continue to be an advocate for Seychelles.

Mr Panda, whose successor has not yet been named, is expected to leave the country on November 8.