Secretary Price Attends First G20 Health Ministers Meeting

Today, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., attended the Opening Ceremony of the first G20 Health Ministers Meeting. The meeting takes place May 19 and 20 in Berlin, Germany. Secretary Price welcomes the opportunity to meet with his global counterparts and issued the following statement on the meeting:

“On behalf of the United States and President Trump, I am honored to represent our nation at the first-ever G20 Health Ministers Meeting. President Trump and his Administration appreciate that a sustained, focused commitment to global health security is vital to protecting Americans, strengthening partnerships with other nations, and supporting political and economic stability around the world.

“We extend our gratitude to Germany for hosting this meeting. The productive discussions taking place are of vital importance to the continued collaboration by G20 members to prepare for and respond to potential and actual public health emergencies around the world.”

G20 Health Ministers Meeting Information

During the meeting’s opening ceremony, Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, Hermann Gröhe, welcomed the group; German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, opened the meeting; and the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, delivered the keynote speech.

Over the next two days, G20 health ministers will participate in a health emergency simulation exercise as health crises at home and abroad are directly linked to the G20’s core issue of economic stability and prosperity. This simulation exercise serves to bring all G20 ministers to a common understanding of the political will and engagement needed from them to support the WHO, to be prepared and to assist other countries with preparedness, to communicate openly about emerging and active threats, to employ rational and risk-based measures when responding to threats, and to improve capabilities through active research, development, and innovation.

Finally, the G20 health ministers will participate in a discussion led by Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Secretary General Angel Gurría on antimicrobial resistance.

Throughout the meeting, Secretary Price will participate in many bilateral meetings with other health ministers.