Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal has commended the hospitals, doctors & corona warriors, saying that they really deserve the highest accolades that we as a nation can offer them.

Addressing the Asia Health 2020 summit of Confederation of Indian Industry, he said that their sacrifice will not go in vain.

Speaking about the COVID vaccine, Shri Goyal said that our home-grown vaccine is progressing at rapid speed but as the Prime Minister said,

"Till the time we get a vaccine shot, we absolutely cannot be complacent about the pandemic".

He said that the history will remember India's contribution in fight against pandemic. Describing the lockdown in the country as fully justified, he said that WHO has often said that lockdown in India truly helped the nation prepare itself for pandemic & ensured that Indians come out of pandemic relatively better than many other developed countries.

The lockdown that India strictly enforced has been well recognised globally as a role model which has helped the country to record such wonderful recovery rate country.

Appreciating the CII’S efforts, Shri Goyal said that engagements such as Asia Health 2020 will help in germinating new ideas, coming up with new solutions to many problems of the country & also help develop proper last mile connectivity & delivery of vaccine when available.

He added that We will work in a public-private partnership to engage & ensure the availability of proper COVID healthcare to over 1.3 billion Indians. This will ensure the success in the battles that lie ahead, he added.

Goyal stressed on the importance of ensuring vaccines at an affordable price to all, including less developed countries & poor, saying that this is going to be a collective responsibility of all of us. India will play an important role in ensuring cost-effective & innovative healthcare solutions for future, he added.

Goyal also said that this common attempt to find a vaccine has really brought all of us together. The spirit of a common purpose will help us survive, adapt & enable us to overcome the serious pandemic, the world is facing.