Society

Japan minister urges G20 unity to combat pandemic

Apr 20 (NHK) - Japan's health minister Kato Katsunobu has called on the Group of 20 major economies to lead global efforts to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

Kato made the appeal at a teleconference of G20 health ministers on Sunday. The meeting had been originally scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, the current chair of the grouping.

Kato said the world has drastically changed due to the rapid spread of the virus. He urged the G20 nations to work together to improve medical systems and develop treatments and vaccines.

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also joined the meeting.

He stressed that African and other nations with vulnerable healthcare systems are facing a "critical shortage of supplies" because of "weak supply chains."

Tedros called on the G20 countries to work together to increase the production and "equitable distribution" of essential supplies.

He also called for removing trade barriers that he said "put health workers and their patients at risk."

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