Cool! Indonesia Will Be The Initiator To Invite G20 Countries To Integrate Health Protocol Data At Country Entrances

Secretary of the Directorate General of Public Health Siti Nadia Tarmizi (Antara)

JAKARTA - Secretariat of the Directorate General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi admitted that the Indonesian government would be the initiator, inviting other countries to make a data integration regarding health protocols at state entrances.

This, said Nadia, will be conveyed by the government in one of the series of activities in the G20 Presidency in the health sector, namely the health working group (HWG) meeting. The first HWG will take place in Yogyakarta from 28 to 30 March 2022.

"We need to encourage the use of one health protocol data, especially at the entrance of a country, such as various good practices that have been implemented in Indonesia and other countries. For example, in Indonesia, there is the PeduliLindungi application which is integrated with the health system," Nadia said in a statement, Thursday, March 24.

In more detail, Indonesia will encourage initiatives for technical guidance on international travel based on a risk approach with WHO, harmonization of COVID-19 vaccine certificates with the Digital European Union, as well as air travel guidelines with the International Civilization Organization.

In the first HWG later, continued Nadia, it is necessary to reach a cooperation agreement between countries for the introduction of vaccine certificate verification so that it can be recognized in other countries, especially in G20 member countries.

Nadia said that this call for integration has the benefit of strengthening the global health system, following up on the pandemic preparedness response funding mechanism that was previously part of the discussion at the G20 presidency in Italy in 2021.

“This protocol can also be a model for other infectious diseases whose prevention can be done through vaccination. This is a long-term step that can be taken to secure international travel and reduce the spread of the virus while maintaining the mobility of international travelers," said dr. Nadia.

In addition to the invitation to use one health protocol data, Indonesia will also encourage initiatives to expand manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, and diagnostics to developing countries.

Another initiative that, according to Nadia, needs to be proposed is strengthening global relations for scientists in the fields of virology, immunology, epidemiology, and in other scientific fields related to health crises. The step is to build research centers in developing countries.

“Currently, countries with strong economies must help lower-middle class economies to be able to respond to the global health crisis. Of course, this will also help their national health system to be stronger and have better resilience,” she added.