Canada has always been an advocate of international collaboration, and this holds true when it comes to addressing global health challenges. This is why Canada is participating in the G7 Health Ministers' Meeting in Berlin and the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Today, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, arrives in Berlin for the G7 Health Ministers' Meeting where the G7 partners will work jointly on global health issues. They will discuss key priorities such as pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; addressing antimicrobial resistance; tackling challenges stemming from the relationship between climate change and health; and strengthening sustainable global health financing.
This year, for the first time, the G7 Health Ministers' Meeting will have a joint working session with the G7 Development Ministers' Meeting and a subsequent session with the G7 Finance Ministers' Meeting. They will discuss how accelerating equitable and sustainable access to safe and quality-assured vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, as well as strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in developing countries will support an inclusive sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Duclos will also attend bilateral meetings with his counterparts to discuss these issues, as well as the health impacts and response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. G7 countries stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including the health workers who must be protected.
Minister Duclos will then travel to Geneva from May 22-24 for the 75th World Health Assembly. He will deliver Canada's plenary statement highlighting our continued commitment to international and multilateral engagement to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Minister Duclos will underscore the importance of working together on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for future health threats. He will also speak to the importance of health equity and the need for prevention and health promotion initiatives more broadly.
Canada is committed to collaborate with international partners to advance the health and safety of people in Canada and around the world.
