International funding plays an important role in supporting low-income and middle-income countries so that they can get better prepared to face health issues in the future.
By
DEONISIA ARLINTA
·4 minutes read
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, officially launched in the Indonesian Group of 20 presidency, is expected to be able to overcome disparity in the funding of global pandemic treatment in the future. The management of fund utilization should also be assuredly inclusive, especially for poor and developing countries, so that the aim of achieving equality will be achieved.
The COVID-19 pandemic has indicated the weak system of global-health resilience. The funding disparity in pandemic management is great. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank estimate the cost needed to cover the disparity at US$10.5 billion.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, at the launch of the Pandemic Fund in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday (13/11/2022) said the pandemic had proven the weak health system in low-income and middle-income countries. Their laboratory capacity, human resources, health infrastructure, diagnostic system and primary-health services are inadequate.
“When pandemic hits these countries, these conditions can give rise to a global risk. So, when the world is facing a pandemic, we can only surmount it when all countries are prepared and capable of facing it,” she pointed out.
According to Sri Mulyani, international funding plays an important role in supporting low-income and middle-income countries so that they can get better prepared to face health issues in the future. As it becomes a global initiative, the involvement of various parties is needed to support the funding.
“We will continue to build a more inclusive management system and further strengthen global health architecture. The Pandemic Fund serves as an important milestone as well as a turning point for all of us that G20 is capable of realizing concrete action with a global impact,” she added.
KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati gave opening remarks at the launch of the Pandemic Fund in Nusa Dua, Bali, Sunday (11/13/2022).
A total of 20 donors comprising G20 member countries, non-G20 countries and world-philanthropist institutions have committed to the Pandemic Fund. All such commitments have added up to at least US$1.4 billion. This fund is increasing, with more commitments coming in from other parties.
World Bank President David Malpass stated that the Pandemic Fund was important in supporting low-income and middle-income countries so as to be more prepared to face a global health crisis. This fund is expected to provide incentives to these countries in order to give priorities to their respective needs.
“We urge all countries to contribute to the Pandemic Fund. This Pandemic Fund can help the world to become more secure,” he said.
Public health
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, when separately interviewed, said this fund was needed for the improvement of national health systems directly related to the public.
“By strengthening national health systems in the respective countries, they get better prepared to face the pandemic. So, the countries are prepared, their peoples are ready and so are their national health systems,” he said.
Indonesia plans to make a proposal to access the Pandemic Fund. The fund is planned to be utilized for the strengthening of public health laboratory networks in all parts of Indonesia and the development of biotechnology in Indonesia.
“So, if another pandemic occurs, we are more prepared to promote biotechnological research and development. If there’s any pandemic caused by pathogens, we can immediately conduct research and find out its causes, at the same time producing drugs, vaccines and diagnostic instruments appropriately,” he said.
On a separate occasion, Dian Maria Blandina, a member of the civil-society organization People’s Health Movement, said the scheme of utilization of the Pandemic Fund should be definitely based on equality principles. “The Pandemic Fund should not only concern health programs to serve their [private] interests. Public interests won’t be prioritized,” she said.
