Okayama, Japan (NVI): India has established a unique national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system, which is seen as a serious emerging threat to global public health, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told G20 Health Ministers in a meeting here on October 20.
“In a short span of time India has made commendable progress by implementing a national action plan, establishing a national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, and has decided to contribute to global AMR R&D efforts,” he said. While voicing his concern on AMR, he called upon all relevant UN agencies to align themselves in their endeavour to combat antimicrobial resistance, an official statement said.
The deliberations of the G 20 Health Ministers focused on four major global health issues, namely (i) Achievement of Universal Health Coverage (ii) Response to population aging (iii) Management of health risks and health security management including Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and its containment. Vardhan made specific interventions on all of them.
Intervening on Universal Health coverage (UHC), Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sab Ka Saath; Sab Ka Vikas; Sab Ka Vishwas’ for inclusive health was highlighted along with Ayushman Bharat, FIT India Movement and Eat Right Campaign.
He also shared India’s vision for its projected 20% elderly population by 2050. He conveyed to G20 countries the efforts done so far under National Programme for Health Care of Elderly to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive health care services to an ageing population. He also made a mention of public health measures to tackle Dementia. He concluded his intervention by highlighting India’s commitment to ensure dignity with care for its elderly.
The G20 Health Ministers meeting concluded by adopting the “Okayama Declaration of the G 20 Health Ministers”. The declaration, having 52 articles endorses the Commitment of G20 countries to address the major global health issues, as highlighted above and to pave the way towards an inclusive and sustainable world, as envisioned in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Further, G20 members have committed to continue this dialogue during the upcoming G20 presidency in Saudi Arabia.
-sb
