G20 DECLARATION ON HEALTH
1. Context
- India's G20 presidency placed a strong emphasis on addressing health-related challenges, particularly in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The recently released G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration highlights three key health priorities, along with notable achievements in the realm of digital health innovation and medical countermeasures.
2. Priorities for Health Resilience
- Resilient Health Systems: One of India's priorities was to build robust systems for health emergency prevention, preparedness, and response. This emphasis is aimed at equipping countries to handle health crises efficiently.
- Pharmaceutical Cooperation: India sought to strengthen international cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly ensuring equitable availability and access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics during pandemics.
- Digital Health Solutions: The third priority centred on creating a platform for sharing digital health innovations and solutions, facilitating better and universal health coverage. Notable examples included India's CoWIN and e-Sanjeevani.
3. Launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)
- Digital Health Programme: With the pandemic underscoring the significance of digital health innovations, India committed to developing the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH). This initiative encompasses an investment tracker, a repository of digital health solutions, knowledge sharing, and an ask tracker to meet countries' specific needs.
- Scaling Up Initiatives: India's GIDH aimed to combat the problem of numerous similar initiatives being launched globally without scalability. Non-profit organizations have pledged support for this initiative.
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, a part of GIDH, has created unique IDs and integrated 110 digital health services as of August 2023. However, concerns about data protection and privacy have been raised.
4. Interim Medical Countermeasure Platform
- Equitable Access: While no consensus was reached on creating a permanent platform for equitable access to medical countermeasures during pandemics, an interim platform was proposed to promote research and manufacturing until a legally binding treaty was agreed upon.
- Inclusive Leadership: The interim platform is intended to have an inclusive decision-making arrangement, representing low- and middle-income countries and convened by the WHO.
- Controversy: Some countries, particularly G7 nations with a majority of patents for medical countermeasures, have pushed for this interim platform. However, concerns exist that it may favour G7 countries and hinder efforts for a binding pandemic treaty.
5. Integration of Traditional Medicine
- Global Summit: India's G20 presidency hosted a global summit on traditional medicine, aiming to integrate evidence-based traditional practices with modern medicine.
- Scientific Validation: The outcome document emphasized the potential of evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine practices in public health delivery, provided they undergo rigorous scientific validation.
6. The Way Forward
- India's G20 health priorities and achievements underscore the importance of global cooperation in addressing health challenges.
- While significant progress has been made, challenges such as equitable access and data privacy persist, emphasizing the need for ongoing international collaboration in the health sector.
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For Prelims: G20, COVID-19, New Delhi Declaration, pharmaceutical sector, CoWIN, e-Sanjeevani, universal health coverage, Digital Health Programme, Global Initiative on Digital Health, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, WHO, G7,
For Mains:
1. Evaluate the role of traditional medicine in public health delivery, as emphasized in the G20 declaration. How can evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine practices be integrated with modern healthcare systems? (250 Words)
2. Explain the objectives and components of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) launched under India's G20 presidency. How can GIDH help address the digital health needs of member states and promote equitable access to healthcare solutions? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. With reference to the “G20 Common Framework”, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club. 2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: C
2. In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of G20?
(UPSC 2020)
A. Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey
B. Australia, Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand
C. Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam
D. Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea
Answer: A
3. In the context of bilateral trade negotiations between India and the European Union, what is the difference between European Commission and European Council? (UPSC 2010)
1. European Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations whereas the European Council participates in the legislation of matters pertaining to economic policies of the European Union.
2. European Commission comprises of the Heads of State or government of member countries whereas the European Council comprises of the persons nominated by European Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
4. In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
5. With reference to the Neem tree, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2014)
1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites.
2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents.
3. Neem oil has applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
6. Consider the following: (UPSC 2022)
1. Aarogya Setu
2. CoWIN
3. DigiLocker
4. DIKSHA
Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2, 3 and 4 only C. 1, 3 and 4 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
7. eSanjeevani, the free telemedicine service of the Government of India, was recently integrated with the (NDA 2022)
A. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
B. Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
C. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
D. Universal Health Insurance Scheme
Answer: A
8. With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3. It has seamless portability across the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
9. 'Universal Health Converge: Leaving no one behind' is the theme of: (BHU Staff Nurse 2019)
A. Ayushman Bharat
B. Janani Suraksha Yojana
C. RashtriyaBal Suraksha Karyakram
D. 72nd session of WHO
Answer: D
10. With reference to the G-7 Summit held in June 2021, which of the following statements is/are correct ? (UPPSC Combined State Exam 2021)
1. United Kingdom was the Chair of the Summit.
2. Brazil was invited to the Summit as a guest country.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
A. Only 1 B. Only 2 C. both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
11. Below given Countries are the part of G7, except (Karnataka Police Constable 2020)
A. India B. United States of America C. United Kingdom D. Italy
Answer: A
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Source: The Indian Express
