India Lists Emergencies, Universal Health Coverage As Its Global Health Priorities For G20 Presidency

The meeting was held in a virtual mode and was co-chaired by Italy and Indonesia.

The first meeting of the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF) under India's G20 Presidency was held on Tuesday in a virtual mode which was co-chaired by Italy and Indonesia. The meeting was attended by finance and health representatives from G20 and invited countries as well as international organisations 

This marks the beginning of work on the draft plan designed around India's global health priorities for 2023 by the task force.

India listed several concerns as its priorities for the G20 Presidency. The list includes health emergencies, prevention and preparedness, and response; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on availability and access to safe, effective, and affordable medical countermeasures; and digital health innovation and solutions to aid universal health coverage. 

An official statement on the meeting said, "The Task Force Secretariat worked with the Indian Presidency and co-chairs Italy and Indonesia to draft the work plan for 2023 and beyond, which was designed around the Indian Presidency's Global Health Priorities for 2023."

The work plan was presented for adoption during the meeting, the statement added. 

The release said that the Bali Leaders' Declaration 2022 extended the mandate of the task force to continue the collaborations between "Finance and Health Ministries for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response". 

The meeting enabled discussions on the mandates specified by the Bali Leaders' Declaration, it said. 

The members expressed commitment to the task force's mandate of contributing to strengthening global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response and working with the secretariat and the co-chairs on achieving the deliverables for 2023, the press release further added. 

India is currently Presiding over the G20 Summit for the year 2023 after Indonesia handed over the presidency to PM Narendra Modi after the end of Bali Summit earlier this month.

(With PTI Inputs)