Dr. Aziz Alper Biten, Director General for EU and Foreign Affairs, participated in the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting and the G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting organized by the 2024 G20 Presidency in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on October 31, 2024.
Delivering a speech at the meeting, Director General Dr. Aziz Alper Biten touched upon many issues including the preparation for pandemics, the importance of Information Systems, the necessity of encouraging local production as well as the inhumane conditions in Gaza, and called on the Health Ministers and delegations of the G20 countries to be sensitive to these issues.
The meeting provided a venue to discuss development of global and regional policies with the G20 member countries, participating countries and various international organizations in the field of single health and climate change, digital health, equity in health and the long-term effects of COVID-19.
Furthermore, it was decided to establish a “Local and Regional Production and Innovation Center”, under secretariat of the Brazilian Presidency of the G20 to increase the local and regional production of medical devices, especially vaccines for specific diseases.
The G20 Health Declaration, which was under negotiation for a year in order to provide the necessary political support for all these issues, was also accepted at the meeting.