New Delhi, Oct 29: Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has reiterated the need for creating a “fit-for-purpose” global health architecture.

Delivering the concluding remarks at the second G20 health ministerial meeting at Bali in Indonesia on Friday, he said there’s a need to consolidate efforts taken by the G20 towards managing the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a permanent medical countermeasure platform and ensuring the availability of safe, quality and affordable diagnostic vaccines and therapeutics.

“India to prioritize health emergency prevention, preparedness and response; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on availability and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical counter-measures; and digital health innovation and solution to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery for the Health Working Groups during its upcoming Presidency,” the Minister said.

“The need is to ensure sustainable financing, IHR reforms and seamless discussions among intergovernmental negotiating bodies in the WHO (SETA), GAVI, G7 and G20 for creating a ‘fit-for purpose’ global healthcare ecosystem”.

The Union Minister started his address by supporting his Indonesian counterpart’s call for prioritizing manufacturing and research hubs for medical countermeasures in order to ensure that the world is prepared to counter any future medical challenges. In that context, he also highlighted the need to “consolidate efforts taken by the G20 towards managing the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a permanent medical countermeasure platform and ensuring availability of safe, quality and affordable diagnostic vaccines and therapeutics”.