An official announcement states that US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, will attend the two-day G20 Health Ministers’ meeting, which will begin today in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He will take part in bilateral meetings as well.
According to a press release from the US Department of HHS, Secretary Becerra will emphasize in India that the US and India partnership is one of the most important ones and that it benefits the region’s and the world’s health. Secretary Becerra will “advance the United States’ priorities of increasing our mutual prosperity, advancing democracy and human rights, addressing the climate crisis, and upholding a rules-based order rooted in international law” while attending the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting, it was stated.
In addition, Secretary Becerra will highlight that the United States supports all three priorities of the G20 Health Track under India’s Presidency.
Firstly, improving global coordination on health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR), with a focus on implementing a One Health approach (the intersection of humans, animals, and the environment) and combatting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Secondly, improving the global availability of and access to affordable medical countermeasures (MCMs, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics) for health emergencies; and thirdly supporting the use of digital health systems in low- and middle-income countries to improve healthcare service delivery and to advance universal health coverage (UHC), as per the statement.
