Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Calls for Transparency and Accountability in the World Health Organization
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in the World Health Organization (WHO) during the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting. Urgent reforms are needed to strengthen global health governance and ensure the financial sustainability of the WHO.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting, highlighting the pressing need for transparency and accountability within the World Health Organization (WHO). The minister emphasized that urgent reforms are required to make the WHO “fit for purpose” and financially sustainable.
During the inaugural session of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting, Minister Mandaviya discussed the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to health systems worldwide. He emphasized the need for systemic changes in health governance, addressing the fault lines exposed by the pandemic and strengthening the global health architecture.
Urgent reforms needed to make the WHO “fit for purpose” and financially sustainable.
Minister Mandaviya expressed optimism regarding the reduced trajectory of COVID-19, suggesting that the end of the pandemic may be near. He also advocated for the mutual recognition of vaccine credentials and the interoperability of health data to boost digital health systems.
To facilitate rapid sharing of genome sequencing data, the minister suggested the establishment of an institutional framework among G20 members. This framework would also support neutral and aggregate data-sharing models, promoting equitable benefit sharing under the Nagoya protocol for multiple pathogens.
Minister Mandaviya stressed the importance of an inclusive and agile framework for health emergency management. He called for a global mechanism of surveillance, sustainable financing, and equitable distribution of medical countermeasures. Given that G20 countries account for a significant portion of global GDP and cross-border trade, their engagement and leadership are vital in strengthening the global health architecture.
Furthermore, Minister Mandaviya emphasized the need to support low- and lower-middle-income countries and remove inequities in healthcare. He proposed the establishment of research and manufacturing capacities and the equitable deployment of medical countermeasures. India pledged its support and collaboration in developing an mRNA vaccine hub in the Global South to effectively address future health threats.
The G20 Health Working Group Meetings in Yogyakarta and Lombok, hosted by Indonesia, focused on harmonizing global health protocol standards and building global health system resilience. Minister Mandaviya expressed gratitude to the Indonesian Presidency for prioritizing the issue of tuberculosis (TB) and One Health in the meeting. India has pledged to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global SDG target.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s address at the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and reforms within the World Health Organization. Strengthening global health governance and ensuring the financial sustainability of the WHO are crucial steps towards effectively managing future health emergencies and promoting equitable healthcare worldwide.
