G20 health ministers seek enhanced coordination to combat coronavirus

RIYADH — Health ministers from the Group of 20 major economies held a virtual meeting on Sunday for enhanced coordination of efforts in combating COVID-19, the Saudi G20 secretariat said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency late Sunday.

In the meeting, which was chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the ministers 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-19. They also shared national experiences and adopted preventative measures to contain the pandemic.

They also shared their national experiences, addressed necessary actions to improve preparedness and discussed systemic weaknesses exposed by the pandemic.

"Health Ministers recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted systemic weaknesses in health systems," the statement said. "It also has shown vulnerabilities in the global community's ability to prevent and respond to pandemic threats."

The ministers addressed the need to improve the effectiveness of global health systems by sharing knowledge and closing the gap in response capabilities and readiness, the statement added.

Ministers echoed G20 leaders’ 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.

The meeting also addressed necessary actions to improve pandemic preparedness, 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 antimicrobial resistance.