The 3^rd Health Working Group meeting as part of the G20 India Presidency will be held in Hyderabad. They will focus on the three key priorities of the G20 Health Track. The side events of the 3rd HWG will highlight research and innovation in the health sector, including pharma, vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. This was stated by Shri Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as he briefed the media ahead of the three days event starting tomorrow at Hyderabad.

Addressing the media, the Additional Secretary elaborated that 1^st December 2022 marked a historic milestone for India as it took charge of the G20 Presidency with the theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future, Vasudeva Kutumbakam. Reiterating the Prime Minister’s vision for G20 India’s Presidency, he stated that “it should be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive.” Adding further, Shri Lav Agarwal mentioned that this G20 Presidency presents a unique opportunity to voice the concerns of the Global South as the predecessor (Indonesia) and the successor  (Brazil) of India in the G20 Troika both are developing countries which will further highlight and reinforce the challenges facing Global South.

Elaborating on the G20 Health priorities, Shri Lav Agarwal stated India’s G20 Presidency focuses on three priorities including health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response with a focus on anti-microbial resistance and One Health framework, strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on access and availability to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics), and Digital Health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.

In collaboration with these priorities, co-branded events and side events will be hosted for each health working group meeting that concentrates on an emerging aspect in the health sector such as the Medical Value of Travel, the Impact of Climate Change on Health, the application and relevance of Traditional Medicine in Health Sector today. The 3rd Health Working Group Meeting will focus on Research and Development and Innovation in its side event.

Focus on Research and Development and Innovation on the sidelines of the 3rd HWG Meeting

Shri Lav Agarwal also elucidated on the deliverables of this presidency, particularly as the voice of the Global South, which will contribute to establishing regional networks catering to vaccine therapeutics, diagnostics, research, and manufacturing networks and the creation of a global medical countermeasures coordination platform.  Highlighting the initiatives of Co-Win and Vaccine Maitri, he said India has contributed significantly to addressing the global requirements.