• Friday, 22 November 2024

G20 health ministers meet to discuss stronger global health systems

G20 health ministers meet to discuss stronger global health systems
Health ministers from the G20 group of the world's major industrialized economies began a series of meetings in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta on Monday to discuss the strengthening of global health systems in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. On the agenda are building a health security system, harmonizing Covid-19 health protocols, standardizing international travel documents and strengthening the pharmaceutical industry, Indonesian health ministry spokesperson Nadia Tarmizi said. Also attending the meeting would be Secretary General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tarmizi said. "Global cooperation is critical to overcoming the pandemic and ensuring we are prepared for the next one," Tarmizi said at a news conference ahead of the ministerial meeting. "For this reason, this meeting is an important moment for the G20 to gather support to increase the capacity of the national, regional and global health systems," she added. The health ministers were also scheduled to meet G20 finance ministers on Tuesday to discuss a Financial Intermediary Fund, a financial arrangement involving public and private resources to prevent and respond to future pandemics.