Union Health Secretary, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, chaired the annual meeting of the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) held here today. H.E. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, co-chaired the meeting. The meeting aimed to review and approve the NIPI Progress Report 2025 and the budgeted work plans for 2025–26 under Phase IV of the initiative.

Addressing the occasion, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava stated, “NIPI displays how convergence of efforts can yield results. GoI is also involved in convergence with states and UTs, through whole-of-government approach for achieving desired outcomes.” Noting that India displays a good testing ground for bringing innovation, the Union Health Secretary underlined India’s commitment to share the best practices under the initiative for replication in other settings.

Smt. Srivastava also highlighted the significance of the IPHS ODK (Indian Public Health Standards – Open Data Kit) Tool, developed under the initiative which facilitate assessments and help states quickly identify gaps and receive targeted support to achieve the required standards. She concluded her address by reaffirming the Union Health Ministry’s appreciation for this partnership and its commitment to continuing the collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, HE May-Elin Stener highlighted that next year will mark 20 years of this partnership. She stated that there have been innovative and catalytic interventions through this partnership which has helped in bringing significant results.

Ms Stener noted that the Indian government has invested 26 times the amount Norway spent under this initiative which highlights the importance being given to this collaboration. “India has a very definitive goal of being a developed country and this is visible in the work being done at the ground level. Commitment to health services is very important for the development of Indian health services. There have been significant developments in the health sector in India since this partnership started in 2006”, she stated.

Key deliverables of the initiative – such as the IPHS ODK Toolkit, establishment of an Innovation Hub within NHM, development of a Decision Support System (DSS) algorithm for the extended provision of services under Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), creation of a Pre-Pregnancy Care Model, a ‘Self-Care’ Cervical Cancer Screening Model, and the formulation of Integrated Home-Based Care for Newborns and Children (HBNCC) Guidelines – along with their outcomes, were discussed through a presentation.

The Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) is based on agreement between Governments of Norway and India to collaborate towards achieving India’s National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NIPI’s vision is to provide strategic, catalytic and innovative support to India’s National Health Mission (NHM), in states of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.

The partnership has successfully completed three phases and is currently in its fourth phase, providing crucial technical support to MoHFW and NHMs of partner states. So far, NIPI has enabled implementation of various health innovations, knowledge generation, and documentation products, serving as a platform for evidence-based health systems strengthening.

The partnership is governed by an Annual Meeting/Joint Steering Committee meeting between the Governments of India and Norway and the implementing agency. The meeting is Chaired by the Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and co-chaired by the Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi with AS&MD (NHM) as the convener. This meeting sets priorities for, and discusses results from, the partnership, as well as approves reports and work plans prepared by the implementing partner.

Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Addl. Secretary, Union Health Ministry; Smt. Meera Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry; Dr Ashfaq Bhat, Program Director, NIPI; Mr. Are Nagoda, Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy; Ms Undis Vatvedt Singh, Senior Advisor; Royal Norwegian Embassy; Principal Health Secretaries/Mission Directors of NIPI supported states (Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar) and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry were present at the event.

***

SR

HFW- NIPI Annual Meeting/31^st Oct 2025/1