The discussion focused on the setting up of preparedness and management plans with a One Health approach and on international coordination and collaboration in the pandemic response.
On 25 and 26 March 2021, the Monumental Hall of Palazzo Chigi hosted the Second Health Working Group Meeting of the G20 under the Italian Presidency.
The two-day meeting was attended, in videoconference, by delegates from all G20 members, as well as representatives of some guest countries, of the United Nations Agencies dealing with the subject and of international institutions invited as guests on this occasion.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Giuseppe Ruocco, welcomed and coordinated the meeting, in the presence of the Minister's Diplomatic Counsellor, Davide La Cecilia.
On this occasion, the Presidency proposed, as topics for discussion on health emergencies: 1) the setting up of preparedness and management plans with a One Health approach and 2) an "international coordination and collaboration in the response".
On the first day, the topics were introduced by the Directors-General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Giovanni Rezza (DG Prevention) and Dr. Pierdavide Lecchini (DG Animal Health).
Then A. Buzyn (WHO), JP. Dop (OIE), S. von Dobshuetz (FAO), D. Robinson (UNEP) and M. Pearson (OECD) illustrated the Concept Note aimed at defining the context of the work.
Prof. Moreno Di Marco (La Sapienza University of Rome) then presented some data on the close link between sustainable development and pandemic risk, as a means to promote a transformative, preventive approach that considers the protection of biodiversity, the environment, and the health of the planet.
Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat of WHO Europe presented the activities of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, chaired by Prof Mario Monti.
The last speech before the plenary discussion, given by S. Edwards representing the Secretariat of the "G20 AMR R&D HUB", established in 2017 on the occasion of the German G20 Presidency, was dedicated to antimicrobial resistance, with a presentation entitled AMR: where we "R".
On the second day, Prof. Walter Ricciardi, from the Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore in Rome, coordinated a consultation session in which delegates from stakeholder groups were given a voice and presented their positions and proposals regarding the topics under discussion. Representatives of the Engagement Groups (T20, L20), NGOs (Médecins Sans Frontières) and other non-governmental actors took part in the consultations.
Other aspects related to preparedness and health systems were also addressed, with a speech by the Director-General for Health Planning of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Andrea Urbani, followed by Prof. Reem Al Bunyan, representing the Global Innovation Hub for Improving Value in Health, set up last year with the Saudi Presidency.
Lastly, there was a focus on 'patient safety' with the intervention of Dr. N. Dhingra, responsible for this sector within the WHO, and Dr. S. Albolino and Dr. G. Dagliana, from the WHO Collaborating Centre 'Human Factor and Communication for the delivery of Safe and Quality Care' in Florence.
Also on the second day of the conference, delegates from G20 countries, guest countries and International Organisations had the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the Concept Note.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 17 and 18.
