G20 Health Ministers Discover the World Is Not Equipped To Address Pandemic

April 20, 2020 (EIRNS)—The G20 health ministers held a videoconference on the COVID-19 pandemic on April 19, issuing a page-long statement that “emphasized that people’s health and well-being are at the heart of all decisions taken to protect lives, tackle illness, strengthen global health security, and alleviate the socio-economic impacts resulting from COVID-1.”

However, they

“recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted systemic weaknesses in health systems. It also has shown vulnerabilities in the global community’s ability to prevent and respond to pandemic threats. Ministers addressed the need to improve the effectiveness of global health systems by sharing knowledge and closing the gap in response capabilities and readiness.”

They also expressed concern regarding the “risks posed by the pandemic to developing and least-developed countries, where health systems and economies may be less able to cope with the challenge.”

They also stress the “importance of utilizing digital solutions in current and future pandemics, the emphasis on patient safety and the importance of improving value in health systems as well as anti-microbial resistance.” The G20 health ministers noted that they would take “further actions that may be required to contain the pandemic and will reconvene again as necessary.”