India renews commitment to healthy ageing at 78th WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee in Colombo
MoS Health Anupriya Patel represented India at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Colombo from 13 to 15 October 2025, on healthy ageing (PIB, 16 October 2025).
Summary
Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel represented India at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 13 to 15 October 2025, PIB reported on 16 October 2025. She said India has 153 million people aged 60 and above. The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) is operational in 92% of districts, and AB-PMJAY now covers all citizens aged 70 and above regardless of income, benefiting nearly 60 million elderly people in 45 million families. India has two National Centres of Ageing, at AIIMS New Delhi and Madras Medical College, Chennai, and 17 Regional Geriatric Centres. India proposed regional cooperation on integrating primary health care and long-term care.
Key facts
- Meeting
- 78th WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, Colombo, 13–15 Oct 2025
- India
- MoS Health Anupriya Patel
- Elderly
- 153 million aged 60+
- NPHCE
- Operational in 92% of districts
- AB-PMJAY
- All aged 70+ — ~60 million people, 45 million families
- Centres
- NCAs at AIIMS Delhi and Madras Medical College; 17 Regional Geriatric Centres
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, where India spoke on healthy ageing in October 2025, was held in which city?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Colombo
PIB: the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee of South-East Asia was held in Colombo during 13–15 October 2025.
Consider the following statements made by India at the 78th WHO SEARO session (October 2025): 1. The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) is operational in 92% of districts. 2. India's two National Centres of Ageing are at AIIMS New Delhi and Madras Medical College, Chennai. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: NPHCE is operational in 92% of districts; the two National Centres of Ageing are at AIIMS New Delhi and Madras Medical College, Chennai, alongside 17 Regional Geriatric Centres.