INDIA – The second edition of the G20 Health Working Group meeting has kicked off in Goa in India, underway from 17th April to 19th April 2023.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the second HWG meeting will have thematic discussions on three priorities identified under the G20 Health Track.
“The Health Track of the G20 India Presidency will comprise four Health Working Group (HWG) Meetings and one Health Ministerial Meeting (HMM),” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in an official statement.
These meetings will be held in different locations across the country including Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar.
The ongoing second G20 Health Working Group meeting will focus on health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response as well as shed light on One Health and antimicrobial resistance.
Additionally, it will serve as an opportunity for speakers to highlight the importance of cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on access and availability to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medical countermeasures.
Participants will also gain insights into the critical role of digital health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.
“A side event on Digital Health will be held on the sidelines of the second meeting of HWG at Goa on April 18-19,” notified the MoHFW.
Led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this meeting is set to gather over 180 delegates from 19 G20 member countries, 10 invited states, and 22 international organizations.
These G20 Member States include Australia, France, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, and observers Mauritius, Netherlands, and Oman.
Several leaders will deliver comprehensive lectures on building a healthier post-pandemic world including Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, and Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports & Shipping and Waterways.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan will also be present at the three-day meeting, which was inaugurated on 17th April and will end on 19th April 2023, alongside delegates of G20 countries.
It will be a unique opportunity for the regional experts to share their knowledge and experiences around promoting health and wellness tourism in India.
This news comes as the country witnessed more than 1.4 million medical tourists in the past year, making it one of the top destinations for medical tourism.
By the end of the conference, leaders are expected to push forward a call to action focused on surveillance, lab systems, and strengthening the public health workforce.
The Pandemic Fund is inviting interested eligible countries, regional entities, and implementing entities to develop full proposals for potential projects to be supported by this initial funding.
Moreover, the second G20 Health Working Group meeting builds on India’s commitment to consolidate health priorities and key takeaways from previous presidencies while highlighting critical areas that require strengthening.
This event will play a critical role in educating policymakers on the need for G20 member states to work for the interweaving of multiple health initiatives under various multilateral forums.
Furthermore, the second G20 Health Working Group meeting is anticipated to pave further the way for leaders to create an agile and fit-for-purpose global health architecture.
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