IndiGlobal Bureau
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Union MoHFW Additional Secretary speaks to media on the eve of 3rd Health Working Group meet of G20 in Hyd from June 4 to 6
If World has to be better prepared for a future health emergency then the need of the hour is an agile, non-fragmented and non-silos Global Health Architecture, stressed Shri Lav Agarwal (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI on Saturday. He said global initiatives on managing future health emergencies should integrate among themselves. Lav Agarwal addressed the media on the eve of 3rd Health Working Group Meeting as part of G20 which will be held in Hyderabad from June 4 to 6.
Highlighting on the proposed Health Working Group Deliverables, the senior bureaucrat who served for 20 years in the combined Andhra Pradesh State before going for central deputation, said that every second and every day counts and is crucial when facing a global health emergency.
” If the World Bank has earmarked a fund for meeting health emergencies, then the Technical Advisory Group of the World Bank and the World Health Organisation should not be working in silos in terms of response,” he pointed out.
Dr Lav Agarwal stated that faultlines and gaps in Global Health Architecture were exposed with Covid-19. Many countries suffered initially in the pandemic and this is where a timely response will go a long way in managing such emergencies, the senior bureaucrat said.
Lav Agarwal emphasized on mapping of ongoing initiatives in health emergency prevention, preparedness and responses so as to complement each other avoiding duplication in responses for managing future health emergencies.
The Additional Secretary elaborated that 1st December 2022 marked a historic milestone for India as it took charge of the G20 Presidency with the theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future-“Vasudeva Kutumbakam”. Reiterating the Prime Minister’s vision for G20 India’s Presidency, he stated that “it should be inclusive, ambitious, action oriented, and decisive.” Adding further, Shri Lav Agarwal mentioned that this G20 Presidency presents a unique opportunity to voice the concerns of the Global South as the predecessor (Indonesia) and the successor (Brazil) including India comprise the G20 Troika and all three are developing countries which will further highlight and reinforce the challenges facing Global South.
Elaborating on the G20 Health priorities, Shri Lav Agarwal stated India’s G20 Presidency focuses on three priorities including health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and One Health framework, strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on access and availability to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics),and Digital Health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.
The first Health Working Group meeting was held from 18 to 20 January in Kerala followed by the second one in Goa from 17 to 19 April. Co-branded events and side events are being hosted as part of each health working group meeting that concentrate on an emerging aspect in the health sector such as the Medical Value Travel, Impact of Climate Change on Health, the application and relevance of Traditional Medicine in the Health Sector today. The 3rd Health Working Group Meeting being hosted in Hyderabad now will focus on collaborations in Research and Development and Innovations as its side event.
Lav Agarwal also elucidated on the deliverables of this presidency, particularly as the voice of the Global South, will contribute to establishing regional networks catering to vaccine therapeutics, diagnostics, research, and manufacturing networks and creation of a global medical countermeasures coordination platform. Highlighting the initiatives of Co-Win and Vaccine Maitri, he said India has contributed significantly to addressing the global requirements. He further added that technology has been a great enabler in reaching the last mile via telemedicine, Co-Win platform, easier identification and access to blood banks. These collective initiatives serve to ensure that health services are within the reach of the poor man.
Sharing more details about the third Health Working Group meeting in Hyderabad, Shri Lav Agarwal stated that 180 members, 10 countries and 22 international organizations will be taking part. There will also be a co-branded event on Global Vaccine Collaborative as well as a visit to Genome Valley, showcasing India’s prowess in vaccine and pharma manufacturing, and big growth in research and development.
Dr. Manisha Verma, ADG, PIB, Delhi and Shri Balakrishna, Joint Director, PIB, Hyderabad also took part in the press conference.