The Saudi capital continues to witness discussions among the Group of Twenty working groups in preparation for the G20 summit that is scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November.
The G20 Health Working Group (HWG) stressed this week the need to transform towards sustainable healthcare systems and harness digital technology with a more accurate definition of the levels of challenges that will face the health sector in the future.
The HWG held its first three-day meeting on January 14 as part of the Kingdom’s G20 presidency program.
The meeting was attended by delegations from G20 member states, invited guest countries and regional and international organizations.
Participants discussed common challenges and potential opportunities to determine the next steps toward creating sustainable person-centered health systems.
The sessions also focused on Value-Based Health Care (VBHC), Digital Health, and Patient Safety.
Constructive discussions tackled preparedness to face epidemics and the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), building on the progress made in previous G20 presidencies.
Globally, healthcare accounts for 11 percent of GDP and generates millions of jobs, many of which are assigned for women.
But nearly 3.5 billion people do not receive the basic health services they need. This situation can improve if the international community cooperates and seizes all opportunities presented by emerging trends and technologies that are capable of shaping new horizons for the healthcare system.
Prior to the meeting, delegates attended the Accelerating Transformation Towards Sustainable Health Systems through VBHC.
The conference brought together experts, state delegations and representatives of international organizations to review the successful experiences and best practices on implementing VBHC solutions.
The G20 HWG will meet again in March to continue discussions and build consensus to create sustainable health systems that prioritize people’s health needs and safety.
