India hosts G20 Deputies’ meeting ahead of G20 Health Ministers’ Meet

NEW DELHI: Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, addressed the G20 Deputies’ meeting ahead of the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting.

During her address, the union minister said, “India’s G20 Presidency has revolved around the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family. Nowhere is this more important than in the field of global health as the pandemic taught us ‘No one is safe until everyone is safe’.”

G20 Health Ministers’ meeting will be centred on three vital points, (i) preventing future health emergencies, improving preparedness and response with an enhanced focus on anti-microbial resistance and One Health framework; (ii) strengthening the pharmaceutical sector to improve access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics); and Digital Health innovation and solution to support universal health coverage and improving healthcare service delivery.

Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog; Abhay Thakur, India’s G20 Presidency Sous Sherpa and Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and DG ICMR; and Lav Agarwal, India’s G20 Presidency Health Track Focal Point and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, were also present in the meeting.