The third health working group meeting, part of the G20 India Presidency, will place a strong emphasis on global health priorities, according to Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Scheduled to commence in Hyderabad on June 4th, the meeting aims to tackle key concerns of the G20 Health Track, with a particular focus on research and innovation within the health sector. This includes discussions on pharmaceuticals, vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Agarwal highlighted the significance of India’s G20 Presidency in representing the concerns of the Global South, as both the predecessor (Indonesia) and the successor (Brazil) in the G20 Troika are developing countries. This provides an opportunity to address and reinforce the challenges faced by the Global South. India’s G20 Presidency focuses on three priorities: preventing, preparing for, and responding to health emergencies with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and a one health framework; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector to enhance access and availability of safe, effective, quality, and affordable medical countermeasures (vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics); and promoting digital health innovations and solutions to achieve universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.
The meeting will see the participation of 180 members, 10 invited countries, and 22 international organizations. In addition to the main event, a side event will focus on discussing frameworks for research development and innovation to establish a network that leverages global access. Furthermore, a co-branded event on the Global Vaccine Collaborative and a visit to Genome Valley will showcase India’s expertise in research, development, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.