Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar participated in the G20 Health Working Group (HWG) meetings held under G20 India Presidency 18th – 19th August, 2023 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Objectives

The focus of the G20 Health Minister’s Meeting will be on the three key priorities of the G20 Health Track, including health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response with a focus on anti-microbial resistance and One Health framework; Strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on access and availability to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures (Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics); and Digital Health innovations and solutions to aid universal health coverage and improve healthcare service delivery.

Agenda

Besides the G20 Deputies Meeting on 17 August, 2023 and G20 Health Minister’s Meeting on 18th – 19th August, 2023, there will be four side events including One Earth One Health Advantage Health Care – India 2023; WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit; India MedTech Expo 2023; and ‘Sustain, Accelerate and Innovate to End TB in South-East Asia Region’ Conference. A Joint Finance – Health Ministers’ Meeting will also be held on 19th August, 2023 as a focus event of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting. There will also be combined sessions of G20 and side events during the course of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting.

Activities

Friday, 18 August, 2023

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met with Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom , where they exchanged views on the importance of maintaining the readiness of health systems in the areas of prevention, treatment and one health, and preserving the gains of the health system in the face of epidemic pandemics.

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met with his Saudi counterpart

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met on Friday 18/08/2023 with his Saudi counterpart Fahad Al Jalajel to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the field of health.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the G20 Health Working Group (HWG) meetings that took place in the Indian city of Gandhinagar from August 18 to 19. 

The two ministers probed the developments witnessed by the health sector in the two countries, notably the activation of digital transformation and the automation of health services offered to Egyptian and Saudi citizens. 

They also exchanged views on the most important health challenges that face world countries in general and the Arab region in particular.

The Egyptian health minister invited his Saudi counterpart to take part in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that will be held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on September 5-8 in the New Administrative Capital.

Saturday, 19 August, 2023

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar participated in the “Medicine Sector” session within the activities of the Health Working Group meetings of the G20, held from 18 to 19 August, in India.

In his speech, Abdel Ghaffar stressed the urgent need to ensure the right to health for all, as the pharmaceutical sector plays a pivotal role in global health, explaining the importance of strengthening cooperation in this field to ensure the well-being of societies.

He pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic showed the importance of a strong and resilient pharmaceutical sector, as that crisis highlighted weaknesses in healthcare systems, and exposed health systems’ gaps in preparing to confront pandemics.

Abdel Ghaffar added that the rapid development of vaccine and drug technology, as well as diagnostic methods, is strong evidence of the scientific progress that countries have reached, despite the existence of disparities in access for all people, calling on everyone to work together to build a more equitable and inclusive future in fair access to medicines and vaccines, especially during health crises and pandemics.

The Minister of Health and Population reviewed Egypt’s experience over the past years in promoting local production of medicines and vital medical products, which was a basic pillar of the national health agenda.

He stated that the Egyptian state has provided the necessary resources to enhance the national medical production capabilities, with the aim of providing safe, effective and high-quality medicine through the application of good manufacturing practices, which was clearly reflected in Egypt’s productive capabilities, which helped produce the COVID-19 vaccine, through the Egyptian company VACSERA.

The minister noted that the efforts of the Egyptian state culminated in the establishment of Gypto Pharma, which is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the entire Middle East region, with a production capacity of approximately 200 million packages of medicines annually.

The minister added that more resources must be allocated in the main areas of health care, including scientific research for new treatments, especially in issues related to public health, epidemics, immunity and vaccines, through the development of geographically diverse research, development and manufacturing networks.

Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met with his Indian counterpart

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar discussed with Indian Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya vistas of cooperation in the medical and digital health fields as well as medications manufacture, vaccines and medical tourism.

The two ministers asserted desire to establish an unprecedented example of successful cooperation, given both countries have infrastructure and human cadres.

Abdel Ghaffar affirmed his full support for the Egyptian-Indian medical partnership that is considered a natural result of deep and strong and historical ties binding the Egyptian and Indian governments. 

Abdel Ghaffar added that this partnership is aiming to maximize cooperation between Egypt and India in joint health security and precautions for pandemics, according to him.

Minister of Health and Population participated in a session on “Alternative medicine” held on the sidelines of the G20 activities

The session focused on cementing cooperation to support the pharmaceutical sector with focus on providing safe and effective medications with high quality at reasonable prices. 

Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar called for exerting further efforts to build a better future with fair access to medications and vaccines, particularly during the outbreak of pandemics, epidemics and any other health crises.

He shed light on Egypt's fruitful experiment on backing the local production of medicines and vaccines under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his wise visions. 

Abdel Ghaffar asserted that the state's great efforts were crowned with the establishment of Gypto Pharma city, which is the largest manufacturer of medicines in the Middle East region with a production capacity of 200 million packs of medicines of various kinds a year.