On Wednesday 28 February, the G7 health ministers affirmed their support for the completion of negotiations on the international agreement on the prevention of pandemics and the revision of the International Health Regulations (IHR), in anticipation of the forthcoming 77th World Health Assembly in May.
Meeting remotely at this first meeting dedicated to health, under the Italian Presidency, the ministers undertook to work together with all nations and stakeholders to establish effective and operational rules aimed at safeguarding lives and promoting global equity.
The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, emphasised the unique opportunity offered by these negotiations to consolidate pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. “This is an undertaking shared by all countries, the best way to strengthen the global health architecture and improve equity”, she said, while issuing a reminder of the EU’s commitment to filling the gaps revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Kyriakides said that the discussions had demonstrated the major importance of the agreement on pandemics and the revised international rules to fill the gaps in preparedness for global health emergencies. In her view, the European Union, supported in particular by the WHO, is playing a central role in the search for consensus.
As the European Commissioner stated, solidarity and cooperation have been prioritised, in order to restore confidence and achieve the global health objectives set for 2030.
The EU’s efforts, notably through the Pandemic Fund and the ‘Team Europe’ initiative, which is devoting €1.3 billion to access to healthcare in Africa, were praised for their significant contribution to improving equity in healthcare.
Finally, the joint declaration adopted at the meeting confirms the global commitment to diversifying the production of medical countermeasures and promoting a unified response to future pandemics.
To read the statement, go to: https://aeur.eu/f/b34 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)