<p>World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on Saturday (August 19) hailed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat as an upcoming hub of traditional medicine.</p>

<p>"I believe that a few years from now Gujarat will be the mecca of traditional medicine. It is unique and it is very important," Ghebreyesus told Press Trust of India at the G20 health ministers' meeting in Gujarat's state capital Gandhinagar in western India.</p>

<p>Earlier, India unveiled the 'Global Initiative on Digital Health, a WHO Managed Network' at Gandhinagar's Mahatma Mandir convention in Ghebreyesus' presence.</p>

<p>The WHO chief described the Global Initiative on Digital Health as an integrative step that will lead to equity in healthcare.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Unlocking the power of Traditional Medicine</strong></p>

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<p>"It will amplify our efforts with the incorporation of tools, such as AI while giving due importance to ethics, policy, and governance. GIDH will ensure that no one is left behind," PTI quoted Ghebreyesus as saying.</p>

<h2><strong>Covid still a global threat: Dr Tedros</strong></h2>

<p>Ghebreyesus said that while Covid&nbsp;is no longer a global health emergency, it still remains a 'global health threat' and a new variant is already under the radar of many countries.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/need-for-china-to-step-up-fight-against-mpox-who-report-627090">Need for China to step up fight against mpox: WHO report</a></strong></p>

<p>"Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains a global health threat. WHO has recently classified a new variant with a large number of mutations. BA.2.86 variant is under monitoring at present, highlighting once again the need for all countries to maintain surveillance," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>Focus on ‘Pandemic Accord’: Dr Tedros</strong></h2>

<p>The WHO chief asked all the representatives of the countries present in Gandhinagar&nbsp;to accelerate the process of finalising the ‘Pandemic Accord’ so that it can be adopted in the World Health Assembly scheduled to be held next year.</p>

<p>"COVID-19 has taught us all an important lesson that when health is at risk everything is at risk. The world is learning the painful lessons of the pandemic," he added.</p>

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World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on Saturday (August 19) hailed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat as an upcoming hub of traditional medicine.

World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on Saturday (August 19) hailed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat as an upcoming hub of traditional medicine. "I believe that a few years from now Gujarat will be the mecca of traditional medicine. It is unique and it is very important," Ghebreyesus told Press Trust of India at the G20 health ministers' meeting in Gujarat's state capital Gandhinagar in western India. Earlier, India unveiled the 'Global Initiative on Digital Health, a WHO Managed Network' at Gandhinagar's Mahatma Mandir convention in Ghebreyesus' presence. The WHO chief described the Global Initiative on Digital Health as an integrative step that will lead to equity in healthcare. Also watch | Gravitas Plus: Unlocking the power of Traditional Medicine × "It will amplify our efforts with the incorporation of tools, such as AI while giving due importance to ethics, policy, and governance. GIDH will ensure that no one is left behind," PTI quoted Ghebreyesus as saying. Covid still a global threat: Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that while Covid is no longer a global health emergency, it still remains a 'global health threat' and a new variant is already under the radar of many countries. Also read | Need for China to step up fight against mpox: WHO report "Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains a global health threat. WHO has recently classified a new variant with a large number of mutations. BA.2.86 variant is under monitoring at present, highlighting once again the need for all countries to maintain surveillance," he said. Focus on ‘Pandemic Accord’: Dr Tedros The WHO chief asked all the representatives of the countries present in Gandhinagar to accelerate the process of finalising the ‘Pandemic Accord’ so that it can be adopted in the World Health Assembly scheduled to be held next year. "COVID-19 has taught us all an important lesson that when health is at risk everything is at risk. The world is learning the painful lessons of the pandemic," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO chief hails PM Modi's home state Gujarat as future's 'Mecca of traditional medicine'

World Health Organization director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is in India. Ghebreyesus is here to attend the WHO Global Summit and he received quite a welcome.

Indian PM Modi welcomes his 'good friend Tulsi Bhai'

<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for reforms by individual countries in preparation for the next pandemic. The WHO head also asked member nations to honour a previous commitment to boost annual financing for the global health agency.</p>

<p>The development comes weeks after the WHO ended global emergency status for the Covid pandemic which killed millions worldwide during its course of over two years and left a trail of devastating economic consequences globally.</p>

<h2><strong>Preventing the next pandemic: What it means?</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking at the WHO's annual health assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next pandemic.</p>

<p>"We cannot kick this can down the road," the WHO Director-General said in a major address to the agency's member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to "come knocking".</p>

<p>"If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?" he said.</p>

<h2><strong>World Health Assembly in Geneva</strong></h2>

<p>The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva coincides with WHO's 75th anniversary. It aims to address global health challenges, including future pandemics.</p>

<p>The WHO's 194 member states are currently negotiating reforms to the binding rules that fix their obligations in the event of an international health threat. The member states are also reportedly drafting a broader pandemic treaty. This treaty will be&nbsp;up for ratification next year.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;WHO declares Covid-19 pandemic is over; restrictions lifted globally</strong></p>

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<p>"A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be," Tedros was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p>Countries are also set to consider later on Monday the WHO's 2024-2025 budget.</p>

<h2><strong>Calls for a global pandemic prevention fund</strong></h2>

<p>The WHO is facing calls for reform after an independent panel recently described it as "underpowered" when the Covid pandemic first struck. It found that the global health body had&nbsp;limited powers to investigate outbreaks and coordinate containment measures, reflecting WHO's widely criticised track record of failing to timely investigate the origin of the pandemic in China's Wuhan city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Washington-led effort to build a global pandemic prevention fund hosted by the World Bank is among initiatives that could determine the future of the 74-year-old body.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for reforms by individual countries in preparation for the next pandemic. The WHO head also asked member nations to honour a previous commitment to boost annual financing for the global health agency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for reforms by individual countries in preparation for the next pandemic. The WHO head also asked member nations to honour a previous commitment to boost annual financing for the global health agency. The development comes weeks after the WHO ended global emergency status for the Covid pandemic which killed millions worldwide during its course of over two years and left a trail of devastating economic consequences globally. Preventing the next pandemic: What it means? Speaking at the WHO's annual health assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next pandemic. "We cannot kick this can down the road," the WHO Director-General said in a major address to the agency's member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to "come knocking". "If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?" he said. World Health Assembly in Geneva The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva coincides with WHO's 75th anniversary. It aims to address global health challenges, including future pandemics. The WHO's 194 member states are currently negotiating reforms to the binding rules that fix their obligations in the event of an international health threat. The member states are also reportedly drafting a broader pandemic treaty. This treaty will be up for ratification next year. ALSO WATCH | WHO declares Covid-19 pandemic is over; restrictions lifted globally × "A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be," Tedros was quoted as saying by Reuters. Countries are also set to consider later on Monday the WHO's 2024-2025 budget. Calls for a global pandemic prevention fund The WHO is facing calls for reform after an independent panel recently described it as "underpowered" when the Covid pandemic first struck. It found that the global health body had limited powers to investigate outbreaks and coordinate containment measures, reflecting WHO's widely criticised track record of failing to timely investigate the origin of the pandemic in China's Wuhan city. A Washington-led effort to build a global pandemic prevention fund hosted by the World Bank is among initiatives that could determine the future of the 74-year-old body. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Next pandemic is bound to 'come knocking', so better prepare, warns WHO