"Future Infectious Disease Response Requires Global Cooperation" ... 'Global Health Ministers Meeting' Until the 30th

Over 200 Participants from 35 Countries and 10 International Organizations
'New Seoul Declaration' Scheduled for Adoption on the 30th

Jeong Gi-seok, Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony of the "2022 Global Health Security Initiative Ministerial Meeting" held on the morning of the 28th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Global infectious disease experts are gathering in one place to discuss response measures for future infectious diseases after COVID-19.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that from the 28th to the 30th, they will hold the 7th Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Ministerial Meeting under the theme "Preparing for Future Infectious Diseases, Protecting Health Security Together." This is the first in-person GHSA ministerial meeting in four years since COVID-19.

Kim Kang-lip, Special Professor at Yonsei University and former 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said in his keynote speech, "After the outbreak of COVID-19, we deeply realized the importance of national capacity for infectious diseases. I also thought that if we had acted faster and harder, we could have saved more people from the pandemic." He added, "What is certain is that COVID-19 will eventually end, and another infectious disease will emerge. We must not repeat the regrets I have experienced."

Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, emphasized the importance of investment in infectious disease virus research and development in his video keynote speech, stating, "The ongoing vaccine research for the MERS virus laid the foundation for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine."

Ahmed Uma, Acting Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), delivering a congratulatory message, said, "When COVID-19 occurred, some countries acted alone as if we had forgotten that we are 'One World.' For the Global Health Security Agenda to be complete, all countries must work together. If someone is excluded, the links inevitably become loose," emphasizing the need to respond to new infectious diseases as 'One Team.'

Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the KDCA, said, "I hope this meeting will be a constructive opportunity to gather wisdom on health security, prepare our actions for the post-COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss practical action plans to strengthen each country's infectious disease response capabilities."

The meeting will be attended by over 200 participants from 35 GHSA member countries including the United States, Indonesia, and Uganda, as well as 10 international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

In addition to the ministerial meeting, expert forums on nine topics related to strengthening health security capabilities and cooperation measures have been prepared. These forums are hosted by organizations including the KDCA, Georgetown University (USA), the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the UK Health Security Agency, and the U.S. Nuclear Threat Initiative.

The expert forums held on the 28th and 29th will be open to the general public. Those wishing to participate can register on-site and enter free of charge.

On the second day of the meeting, the 29th, a steering group meeting to coordinate and evaluate GHSA operations and progress on action plans will be held, along with a simulation exercise based on a hypothetical scenario to respond to the emergence and spread of new infectious diseases.

On the final day, the 30th, the ministerial meeting will evaluate GHSA achievements, identify areas requiring international efforts, and adopt the new Seoul Declaration outlining GHSA’s future vision. Following this, a joint press conference attended by health ministers from key countries including Uganda and the United States, as well as Commissioner Baek Kyung-ran, will brief on the significance and outcomes of the meeting.