G20 Expert Meeting in Berlin
"Taking action against health threats – is the world better prepared?"
In preparation for the G20 Health Ministers' Meeting, the Federal Ministry of Health hosted an expert meeting with representatives of the leading industrialised and emerging countries and the European Union as well as of civil society, industry, science and politics in Berlin on 7 and 8 December 2016.
Along with the motto 'Taking action against health threats - is the world better prepared?' the participants in this event exchanged their experience and lessons learned from the Ebola crisis and thereof resulting recommendations. On this occasion, the main focus was on an improved international networking, strengthening the role of WHO and its financing as well as the implementation of International Health Regulations.
Tangible action as a consequence of the Ebola crisis served as examples of best practice. This included, inter alia, the establishment of a new health crisis unit at WHO (WHO Health Emergencies Programme), the development of rapidly available and specialised teams of helpers and the improvement of epidemics' early warning systems.
The agenda of this meeting also included the organisation of the health crisis simulation exercise which the G20 health ministers will carry out in Berlin in May 2017.