Today, His Excellency the Minister of Finance Mohammad Aljadaan, and His Excellency the Minister of Health Eng. Fahad Aljalajel participated in a G20 Joint meeting of Finance and Health ministers in Gandhinagar, India. Health ministers attended the meeting in-person, while finance ministers participated via videoconference.
The Ministers discussed the latest developments and actions in their efforts to address weaknesses and risks in prevention, preparedness, and response to pandemics. This work also includes coordination mechanisms between the ministries of finance and health, and ensuring the adequate means to strengthen them. The Ministers also reviewed a preliminary report on identifying funding gaps related to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as the role of the Pandemic Fund, which was established based on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's proposal during its G20 Presidency in 2020.
It is noteworthy that the G20 Joint Finance and Health meetings started in 2017 under the German G20 Presidency in an effort to strengthen the coordination between the ministries of health and finance of G20 countries, given the funding gaps and the need to address challenges facing the international health architecture.