"Korea, a Key Player in Global Health Security"..."Strengthening International Cooperation on Infectious Diseases"

GHSA Ministerial Meeting Concludes on the 30th
"Cooperation and Communication Are Key to Overcoming Infectious Diseases"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seonjin Byun] "This was an opportunity to demonstrate our country's health security capabilities that effectively controlled the COVID-19 pandemic." "Korea will play a key role in the global health security system going forward."

This is the overall assessment from a government official regarding the recently concluded Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) ministerial meeting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The GHSA ministerial meeting, held over three days from the 28th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, is an international consultative body launched in 2014 in response to the increasing importance of inter-country cooperation against health security threats such as emerging infectious diseases. As many countries experienced new infectious diseases like SARS and MERS, there was a need for each country to fulfill its role in disease surveillance, diagnosis, and prevention, and to share information. This GHSA ministerial meeting, held face-to-face for the first time in four years, was timely as it took place at a moment when discussions on joint national responses, financing, and vaccines became necessary after COVID-19.

Announcement and Adoption of the 'New Seoul Declaration' Envisioning the Future of GHSA

At the GHSA ministerial meeting, attended by representatives from 27 countries, 10 international organizations, and 20 embassies, areas requiring international community efforts were identified, followed by the announcement and adoption of the 'New Seoul Declaration' envisioning the future of GHSA. Minister of Health and Welfare Kyu-Hong Cho interpreted the significance of the New Seoul Declaration as "symbolizing our collective will that infectious disease crises are everyone's responsibility and that health security can be jointly protected through strengthened multi-sectoral and multilateral cooperation."

The New Seoul Declaration extends GHSA activities through its third phase (2024?2028) and includes plans to establish a GHS Coordination Office in Seoul. It also contains commitments to continuously strengthen multi-sectoral and multilateral cooperation to prepare for future infectious disease threats that could jeopardize health security.

Joint Briefing by Five Major GHSA Countries... "Cooperation and Communication Are Most Important to Overcome Infectious Diseases"

In the subsequent joint briefing, government officials from five major GHSA countries?Korea, the United States, Argentina, Thailand, and Uganda?explained the necessity, achievements, and operational plans of GHSA.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this GHSA ministerial meeting, a consensus was reached that in an era where crossing borders freely is possible, the most important factors to overcome new infectious diseases are cooperation and communication. Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Min-Soo Park stated, "COVID-19 taught us the clear lesson that no country can achieve health security alone and that joint cooperation among countries is essential," adding, "not only the rapid development and production of vaccines and therapeutics but also equitable access for low- and middle-income countries must be guaranteed. Furthermore, healthcare systems, financing, information, and research results for responding to infectious diseases should be shared under international cooperation." Thares Krasaneraweewong, Director of the Disease Control Department at Thailand's Ministry of Health, said, "Strong bonds and networks are proving that health threats like those we face now can be overcome."

Since COVID-19 was a major threat to health security, increasing the number of GHSA member countries was also mentioned as a future task. Sandra Tirado, Deputy Minister of Health of Argentina, said, "The importance of international cooperation and solidarity was proven by COVID-19, so GHSA's goals remain valid and must continue to be revised and supplemented," urging "non-member countries, including low- and middle-income countries that have faced great difficulties, to join GHSA and strengthen their national capacities."

Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, expressed welcome for the establishment of the GHS Coordination Office in Korea. The GHS Coordination Office will perform important functions such as sharing best practices for infectious disease prevention and providing technical support for action plans. Director Kyung-Ran Baek of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, "All GHSA member countries agreed on establishing the GHS Coordination Office in Seoul," adding, "The specific establishment schedule will be finalized later through consultations with member countries, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other organizations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.