Hyderabad will host a three-day meeting as part of the G20 India Presidency starting on Sunday. The focus will be on the three key priorities of the G20 Health Track, according to Union Additional Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, Lav Agarwal. The meeting will highlight research and innovation in the health sector, including pharma, vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. India’s G20 Presidency focuses on three priorities: health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector; and digital health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage.
India’s G20 Presidency presents a unique opportunity to voice the concerns of the Global South as both its predecessor (Indonesia) and successor (Brazil) in the G20 Troika are developing countries which will further highlight and reinforce the challenges facing Global South. Co-branded events and side events are being hosted for each health working group meeting that focuses on an emerging aspect in the health sector. The 3rd Health Working Group Meeting will focus on Research and Development and Innovation in its side event.
India’s initiatives of Co-Win and Vaccine Maitri have contributed significantly to addressing global requirements. Technology has been a great enabler in reaching the last mile via telemedicine, the Co-Win platform, easier identification and access to blood-bank. These collective initiatives serve to ensure that health services are within the reach of the poor man. Lav Agarwal stated, “India has garnered in-principal agreement to the three proposed priorities and seeks to build global convergence on an agile, aligned global health architecture.”
The upcoming Health Working Group Meeting will see 180 members, 10 invited countries and 22 international organizations participating. The side event will focus on deliberating on frameworks for research development and innovation for the creation of a network that would leverage access across the world. Additionally, 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 research and development and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
