The G20 Health Ministers Meeting, hosted by Italy, the G20 Term President, was held on September 5-6, 2021 in the Italian capital, Rome. On the first day of the meeting, Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca, representing Turkey, addressed G20 member countries and international organizations. Underlining the importance of accelerating the “Progress in the UN Sustainable Development Goals” in his speech, Minister Koca stated that the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on human health and health systems required a comprehensive assessment.
On the second day of the meeting, Deputy Minister, Assoc. Prof. Tolga Tolunay, addressed G20 member countries. In his speech, Deputy Minister stressed that no country can overcome a pandemic alone, and the main starting point of pandemic preparedness should be strengthening national health systems.