Pandemic Fund Officially Launched

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the world is vulnerable and unprepared to face it. Therefore, the resilience of the world community should be strengthened to deal with the pandemic.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially launched the Pandemic Fund that was introduced in the Indonesian G20 Presidency in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday (13/11/2022). In his message delivered virtually, Widodo said the world should have certainty about funding in the face of the pandemic in the future.

NUSA DUA, KOMPAS – The Pandemic Fund was officially launched by President Joko Widodo virtually in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday (13/11/2022). This fund is expected to strengthen the world in order to better face the pandemic in the future.

President Joko Widodo said the Covid-19 pandemic had proven that the world was unprepared to face the pandemic and the world turned out to have no reliable health architecture to manage the pandemic. Therefore, the resilience of the international community should be strengthened to deal with the pandemic.

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“In terms of funding a total of US$ 31.1 billion is needed annually to finance the systems of prevention, preparation and response to the pandemic in the future, For this purpose, G20 has agreed to form the Pandemic Fund for the prevention, preparation and response to the pandemic,” he said.

Jokowi stated that global health resilience should be strengthened in the face of the pandemic. The Indonesian G20 Presidency also urged that the global health architecture be further improved. In this way, the global health system can be more reliable in dealing with a crisis and become more inclusive with greater justice.

“The pandemic must not claim a lot more victims. The pandemic must not disrupt global economic foundations anymore,” he pointed out.

Besides, an inter-nation synergic health ecosystem should be built to the optimum.

He indicated that in the short term the world should have certainty about funding to prevent and deal with the pandemic. Besides, an inter-nation synergic health ecosystem should be built to the optimum.

Apart from the funding, Jokowi added that all parties were also invited to contribute to the other initiatives such as the formation of a platform for health emergency handling coordination, the sharing of international genomic data to support pathogenic monitoring, the development of global digital networks, the certification of vaccines to facilitate international travel safety and the formation of research and manufacturing center in a fairer and equitable manner.

KEMENTERIAN KESEHATAN RI

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (left) was discussing with Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin after a press conference on the Summit meeting of finance ministers and health ministers in the Indonesian G20 Presidency in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Saturday (12/11/2022).

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the establishment of the Pandemic Fund served as evidence that the Indonesian G20 Presidency was capable of offering a concrete answer. G20 countries were also invited to play a greater role to prepare the world for another pandemic threat.

At present, there are 20 donor countries, both G20 member countries and non-G20 members, which are already committed to the Pandemic Fund. They are the European Commission, the United States, Italy, China, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Singapore, Norway, New Zealand, India and South AFrica.

From the commitments at least around US$1.4 billion has been raised.

In addition, three international philanthropist institutions are also committed, which are Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Welcome Trust. From the commitments at least around US$1.4 billion has been raised. Indonesia is committed to US$50 million.

“This is a good beginning so that we can be better prepared in facing the pandemic in the future,” added Sri.