COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need to invest in health, and the call for sustainable funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) so that the global body can fully respond to public health needs, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.
He pointed out that any proposed increase in budget needs to also consider the global economic impact of the disease.
The Minister, who chaired the 148th session of WHO Executive Board through video conference, said the poorest and most vulnerable are the hardest hit by COVID-19 as the impact of the crisis will reverse hard-won development gains and hamper progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals,
Stressing the need to ensure fair and equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines, Dr Harshvardhan said the pandemic has presented an opportunity whereby “health” has been placed on the global agenda of Governments, partners and donors.
He thanked the medical professionals, scientists and researchers as well as other essential workers around the world who continue working under difficult and challenging circumstances to deal with the pandemic. He also offered his condolences to the families whose dear ones died due to the disease, according to a statement by the health ministry.
"We all know how difficult the year 2020 has been for the whole world… how humanity has battled this crisis with all its might, but it has also been a year in which the wisdom and evidence of science was judiciously adopted. I call the year 2020 as the ‘year of science' and a ‘year of incredible scientific achievement.
“In less than 12 months, researchers have characterised a novel illness, sequenced a new virus' genome, developed diagnostics, produced treatment protocols, and established the efficacy of drugs and vaccines in randomised controlled trials," Vardhan was quoted as saying by the ministry.
The Union minister also expressed optimism that in the current year, the unprecedented crisis caused by the pandemic shall be mitigated and successfully reversed through committed political leadership and sustained global cooperation and solidarity.
"While each country has its unique approach in dealing with public health based on the strengths of their existing health systems and national policies and programs, I am sure that together we will continue to bring about improvements, aligned with our collective discussions," he said.
