The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, will attend the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar and hold meetings on key health issues in New Delhi, India from 17 to 23 August.
This is an important time for the global community, as health systems around the world cope with the pressures of the pandemic, cost of living shock pushing patients to further defer care, and shortage of health workers.
Discussions will focus on global health security and ways to ensure that the world is better prepared for future health threats. Opportunities to better collaborate on digital health will also be a priority.
Australia is not immune from the challenges that health systems around the world face.
As the Albanese Government begins foundational reform to strengthen Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, build the health workforce, bring digital health into the 21st century and stand up an Australian Centre for Disease Control, this G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting will be an important event.
The meeting will strengthen Australia’s growing partnership with India and other G20 countries on broader health system priorities, including workforce and skilled healthcare pathways, which will be a key topic of discussion for meetings in New Delhi.
Minister Butler will reiterate Australia’s support for India’s G20 Presidency and work to enhance global health security through multilateral cooperation in the G20.
Minister Butler will hold bilateral meetings with a number of G20 nations, including India, enhancing relationships with counterparts and sharing experiences on challenges and opportunities across different health systems.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“This is an important time to learn the lessons of the pandemic as nations look to improve, repair and prepare their health systems for another potential future shock.
“I look forward to representing Australia at the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting.
“This meeting is an important opportunity to share the Government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in global health and learning from our G20 counterparts as we build a stronger Medicare and health system.”
