G20 Leaders To Strengthen WHO In Optimising Covid Vaccine Approval Process: Piyush Goyal

“This communiqué gives a very strong message under health section where we have agreed that COVID immunization is a global public good,” Goyal said.

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New Delhi: India’s G20 Sherpa and Union Minister, Piyush Goyal, on Sunday said the leaders attending the summit have agreed the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be strengthened to fast-track the process for emergency use authorisation for Covid-19 vaccines.

The Union Minister said the leaders adopted the ‘Rome Declaration’ at the G20 Summit.

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“This communiqué gives a very strong message under health section where we have agreed that COVID immunization is a global public good,” Goyal said.

“It has been agreed that everybody will help to optimize processes and procedures of WHO for vaccine approval and emergency use authorisation. WHO will be strengthened so that they can do recognition of vaccine faster,” he added, ANI reported.

Goyal said the recognition of COVID vaccines, which are deemed to be safe and efficacious by the WHO, will be mutually accepted, subjected to national laws that countries may have.

Commenting on outcomes of the G20 Summit in Rome, Goyal said: “We got into text which confirms that developed world has acknowledged that they don't have done enough in terms of meeting their commitments and that they will have to move forward in providing finance, technology and enablers to make transition to a clean energy world.”

Goyal said the member countries have identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production along with provisions of finance and technology as critical enablers for achieving climate goals.

“We have also agreed to extend the debt service suspension initiative so that low income courtiers are not burdened with debt repayment at this critical time,” he said.

Commenting on agriculture, Goyal said the livelihoods for small and marginal farmers were focus of our discussions.

“Everybody has agreed that improving their livelihoods is an important global effort that we will have to put in,” he added.