-By ArdorComm News Network
December 21, 2022
The joint finance and health task force formed under India’s G20 presidency began work on a new draft focused on New Delhi’s global health priorities for the next year. The task force’s first virtual meeting, conducted on Tuesday afternoon, was co-chaired by Italy and Indonesia, and was attended by health and finance representatives from G20 and invited countries, as well as international organisations.
India’s priorities for the G20 presidency include health emergencies, prevention and preparedness, and response; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on availability and access to safe, effective, and affordable medical countermeasures; and digital health innovation and solutions to aid universal health coverage.
“The Task Force Secretariat worked with the Indian Presidency and co-chairs Italy and Indonesia to draught the work plan for 2023 and beyond, which was designed around the Indian Presidency’s Global Health Priorities for 2023,” according to an official statement.
According to the statement, the work plan was presented for approval during the meeting. It underlined that the Bali Leaders’ Declaration 2022 extended the mission of the task force to maintain the cooperation between “Finance and Health Ministries for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response”.
The meeting enabled discussions on the mandates specified in the Bali Leaders’ Declaration, said the statement. The members expressed their commitment to the task force’s goal of improving global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as working with the secretariat and co-chairs to achieve the 2023 deliverables.