G20 India Presidency: Focusing on Health Emergencies, Pharmaceutical Cooperation, and Digital Health Innovations
The first Health Working Group meeting under the G20 India Presidency will take place from January 18th to 20th, 2023 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. India assumed the presidency of the G20 on December 1st, 2022, and is currently part of the Troika, which also includes Indonesia and Brazil. This is the first time that the Troika has been composed of three developing and emerging economies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the G20 India Presidency will be inclusive, action-oriented, and decisive, with the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” reflecting India’s philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” The Health Track of the G20 India Presidency will include four Health Working Group meetings and one Health Ministerial Meeting, to be held in various locations throughout India, highlighting the country’s rich and diverse cultures.
India plans to hold side events alongside each Health Working Group meeting to supplement and support G20 discussions. These include events on Medical Value Travel and Digital Health, a workshop on collaborative research on drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines, and a co-branded event at the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. The side event on Medical Value Travel will take place during the first Health Working Group meeting in Thiruvananthapuram.
As the chair of the G20 Presidency, India aims to continue and build on the health priorities and key takeaways from previous presidencies, while also highlighting areas that need strengthening. India also aims to achieve convergence in discussions across various multilateral forums engaged in health cooperation and work towards integrated action. To this end, India has identified three priorities for the G20 Health Track:
- Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (with a focus on One Health and AMR)
- Strengthening Cooperation in the Pharmaceutical Sector with a focus on Access and Availability of safe, effective, quality, and affordable Medical Countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics)
- Digital Health Innovations and Solutions to Aid Universal Health Coverage and Improve Healthcare Service Delivery
Discussions related to these priorities will take place during the Health Working Group meetings and will be attended by representatives from G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and relevant international organizations.
