South Korea and WHO to Host World Bio Summit Next Month
South Korea’s health ministry announced plans to co-host the World Bio Summit 2024 with the World Health Organization (WHO) next month, focusing on strategies to ensure a stable global healthcare supply chain.
Set to take place on November 11-12 in Incheon, west of Seoul, the summit will revolve around the theme “Future Investment for a Healthy and Secure Decade.” Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong stated that the event aims to facilitate discussions on addressing and preparing for global healthcare threats, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
This third iteration of the summit will gather health ministers and senior officials from governments, businesses, and global organizations to tackle key issues in the vaccine and biotechnology sectors. The ministry emphasized that participants will share insights on innovative research and development, strengthening global supply chains, and enhancing biotechnology capabilities, while exploring avenues for international collaboration.
In conjunction with the summit, organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the International Vaccine Institute will host seminars and related events. Additionally, the health ministry plans to set up a Global Business Lounge to foster international partnerships for South Korean healthcare companies.
The WHO has highlighted the urgent need for increased investment to address evolving health risks and to meet the mental and reproductive health needs of the nearly 1.3 billion adolescents worldwide. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, emphasized the importance of promoting and protecting the health and rights of young people to build a better future for all.
