G20 health and finance ministers on Sunday launched a 1.4-billion USD fund to tackle the next global pandemic ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit scheduled to open Tuesday on the Indonesian island of Bali. The 24-nation fund was launched at a news conference addressed by World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and World Bank President David Malpass.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the G20 will build a pandemic fund to prepare for the next pandemic. Donors and philanthropic organizations from both G20 and non-G20 countries have contributed to the fund.

Mr. Widodo said this is not enough, that at least 31 billion USD is needed to ensure community resilience in the face of a pandemic.

Source: VOV5