Jakarta (ANTARA) - The harmonization of health protocol standards for the convenience of international travelers during the pandemic has entered the network harmonization and data security system evaluation stage, spokesperson for the Indonesian G20 Presidency, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, informed.

"It is currently in the process of developing universal verification for digital health documents," she said during the “Road to 3rd Health Working Group (HWG)” virtual press conference on Zoom on Thursday.

The HWG forum is part of the G20 Sherpa Track that is focused on the global health architecture. The forum is stressing the mobilization of financial resources to prevent, prepare, and respond to future pandemics.

Meanwhile, G20 is an international forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union that work together to handle major issues. Indonesia is holding the presidency of the grouping this year.

The meetings have been held to discuss health protocol standard harmonization, including ways to implement it.

The periodic HWG involves economic and development cooperation organizations and global digital health partners with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The trial for the health protocol standard harmonization technology is being undertaken by Indonesia along with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Global Digital Health Partnership virtually.

The group expects a Public Trust Directory to be prepared to manage travelers' data and information exchange so that it can understand problems within the trial, she noted.

Technology feasibility and requirements necessary to harmonize networks can also be documented in a confidential manner, she added.

The trusted network is being prepared to integrate various traveling requirement platforms that exist in each country. The Public Trust Directory is expected to ensure data security for all service users.

The G20 collectively agreed to the harmonization of health protocol standards during the 1st HWG Meeting on March 28–29, 2022, in Yogyakarta.

During the meeting, G20 member countries agreed to develop cross-border interconnectivity as well as various efficient COVID-19 information mechanisms to ease international travel.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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