"Currently, various preparations in the health sector continue to be improved. (This is) because in principle, we want to provide a sense of security to the G20 participants," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin noted in a written statement received by ANTARA here on Saturday.
During the coordination meeting for the implementation of Indonesia's G20 Presidency held on Friday (July 8), Sadikin highlighted that the four health-related aspects were health protocols, surveillance, vaccination, and treatment system.
Health protocols are being strengthened by preparing a health protocol document that will offer guidelines for delegates attending the G20 Summit.
The guidelines are readied to serve as a reference throughout the implementation of the summit. All participants are expected to strictly comply with the applicable rules in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. The final draft of the guidelines is targeted for completion by August 2022.
Related news: G20: Indonesia strives for health diplomacy in pandemic preparedness
Amid the spread of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants, surveillance efforts will be intensified in September or October 2022 to evaluate the transmission of COVID-19 in Bali. The efforts encompass strengthening testing, tracing, and treatment as well as conducting COVID-19 testing on all delegates.
The ministry has also readied Whole Genome Sequencing infrastructures at Udayana University, Bali, to accelerate the examination of samples.
Sadikin noted that despite Bali's vaccination achievement already being excellent, the vaccination drive must continue to be improved to boost the community's immunity.
The last health aspect strengthened by the government is treatment services. The Ministry of Health has readied five referral hospitals for the G20 Summit's participants: Sanglah Public Hospital, Bali Mandara Public Hospital, Siloam Hospital, BIMC Nusa Dua Hospital, and Udayana University's hospital.
Apart from the five referral hospitals, the ministry has also readied health facilities at all hotels used as the G20 meeting venues.
"We have coordinated all to prepare for the summit. We have also lined up several pulmonary doctors. If necessary, we will fly them directly from Jakarta to ensure that they are all ready (to provide service) in October," he remarked.
Related news: Ministry encourages G20 member countries to form global health system
Related news: G20 TIIWG pushes RI's agendas on health infrastructure, digitalization
Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
