VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Implementation of the 3rd Health Working Group (HWG) in Bali brought up several issues in an effort to build a more equal global health system, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated.

"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and fabricate the global health system to become more equal," the minister remarked in Bali, Monday.

The 3rd HWG is part of the G20's Sherpa Track that is focused on global health architecture. The 3rd HWG meeting will be held on August 22–24, 2022, in Bali, with discussions mainly centering on efforts to increase vaccine production and research networks and manufacturers.

Sadikin noted that the pandemic prompted several countries to strengthen their pharmaceutical research and manufacturing capabilities in a sustainable manner.

Although various scientific findings during the pandemic were relatively fast, he believes that access to vaccines and other medical measures in various countries was not equal.

"With a single vaccination rate averaging 80 percent in high-income countries versus 20 percent in low-income countries," he added.

Sadikin believes that the G20 has an important role to play in overcoming this inequality, including through the 3rd HWG diplomacy meeting in Bali.

At the event, which will be attended by a delegation comprising deputy officials at the G20 Ministry of Health level as well as several health experts, the minister will raise three main issues.

The first issue to be brought up pertains to Indonesia's diplomacy in seeking G20 support for the establishment of manufacturing networks and research hubs for all low- and middle-income countries to address the global capacity gap.

"Second, we will discuss mechanisms that can be made by G20 members to facilitate capacity building for knowledge sharing and technology transfer to low- and middle-income countries," he stated.

Third, Indonesia will explore cooperation in multicenter clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries, he said.  (Antaranews)