The European Commission (EU) has said that there’s need to strengthen the global health architecture with a stronger global coordination in preventing, preparing and responding to future pandemics.
EU President, von der Leyen who disclosed this at the session of the G7 Summit on health preparedness in Japan Friday stated that the World Health Organisation deserves a reform, with the resources to fulfil its leading role as the global health’s nerve centre.
She said further that G7 leaders need to step up their engagement with countries that are less equipped to address health emergencies adding that these nations need more skilled personnel, better infrastructure and more community engagement.
“And we have to increase local capacities to produce vaccines in the places where they are needed. The EU is supporting countries, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana or Rwanda, where local manufacturing projects are now taking firm root.
“We need to start thinking about regional manufacturing hubs serving regions, working together with the G20 to ensure that in case of a future pandemic money can be deployed more rapidly and efficiently.
EU President recalled that during the COVID pandemic the usual channels to finance medical counter-measures took too long. “I agree that Universal Health Coverage is essential for a sustainable and healthy future. I therefore support Japan’s Global Action Plan in this area”.
She stressed the importance of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Prevention and innovation are the only way to stop this ‘silent pandemic’.
“We should set ourselves concrete targets to reduce the use of antibiotics, by improving public awareness and by training health professionals. And we need more research in new technologies and novel antibiotics”, she said.