The countries will exchange experience and cooperate in the fields of disease prevention and control, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
By TPS
Ahead of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Conference that will start on Monday in Tel Aviv, Germany’s Minister of Health Prof. Karl Lauterbach and Israel’s Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz signed on Sunday in the Knesset a joint declaration of intent on health cooperation between the two ministries of health with the purpose of further promoting beneficial and intensified cooperation.
The countries will exchange experience and cooperate in the fields of disease prevention and control, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, health professions, digital health, public health, and health insurance.
Israel stated it “is honored to host Prof. Dr. Lauterbach and the professionals from the German Ministry of Health.”
The two ministers met in Berlin a few weeks before Lauterbach’s appointment as Minister of Health, and the two “have been promoting the bilateral cooperation in the field of health, and strengthening the relationship between Germany and Israel.”
“This joint declaration shows once more: Israel and Germany are also partners within the healthcare sector,” Lauterbach declared.
The COVID-19 pandemic has “only strengthened this cooperation even further. With respect to health topics, there is much that Germany can learn from Israel. Israel set a leading example in terms of the vaccine rollout. In addition, it is also a leader when it comes to harnessing the potential of digital solutions to get ahead of the pandemic,” he said.
Horowitz welcomed the joint declaration “as a continuation of our close collaboration in the field of health through regular government to government exchanges.”
“Our collaboration will strengthen tools in pandemic response, innovative mutual projects, and improving universal health care systems for the benefit of both our peoples,” he said.
Ministers of health and representatives from 53 countries across the WHO European Region will meet for the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv.
The Regional Committee is WHO Europe’s decision-making body and the annual gathering is the premier meeting on public health in the European Region, convening health ministers, heads of state and government, and other dignitaries to discuss and endorse regional policies, activities and financial plans to improve people’s health and well-being.
This year’s session is the first to be held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.