India and Bulgaria on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Health & Medicines to usher in new era of bilateral cooperation in health and medicines. The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad signed the MoU in New Delhi with the visiting Minister of Health of Bulgaria, Dr. Stefan Konstantinov.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Mr. Azad elaborated that the MoU between India and Bulgaria would cover issues of Medical services, Public health, Pharmaceuticals; Medical Tourism and Health legislation. Cooperation between the Contracting Parties may be in the forms of Exchange of medical and scientific information, participation of scientists in scientific medical activities organized in each country, short-term exchange of medical personnel or joint projects on subjects of mutual interest. The Minister asserted that India is the supplier of generic drugs across the world and has producers of high quality and affordable generic drugs.

Dr. Stefan Konstantinov on his part underscored the importance of training of medical personnel and exchange of scientific information with special attention to areas of prophylactics. He also said that there is great potential in Bulgaria for developing genetic medicine and e-healthcare with the help of India.