Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to the need to strengthen the capacity of the World Health Organization (WHO) and called for removing barriers to partnership between countries in the field of medicine as much as possible.
"As to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as possible, obstacles to partner relations," the Russian leader said during video address to the 75th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Putin stressed that Russia takes an active part in global and regional efforts to combat coronavirus and provides assistance to the most affected states, while taking into account the Central coordinating role of the World Health Organization. "We believe it essential to qualitatively strengthen the WHO capability. This work has already begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it," Putin said.
Putin noted that during the pandemic, doctors, volunteers and citizens of various countries have been showing us examples of mutual assistance and support, and such solidarity defies borders. Many countries have also been "helping each other selflessly and open-heartedly".
"However, there have been cases showing the deficit of humanity and, if you will, kindness in the relations at the official inter-State level," he said. According to Putin, "the UN prestige could strengthen and enhance the role of the humanitarian or human component in multilateral and bilateral relations." By this, the President of the Russian Federation means people-to-people and youth exchanges, cultural ties, social and educational programs, as well as cooperation in sports, science, technology, environment and health protection.
Access to vaccines
The Russian President proposed to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines and to provide a free access to vaccination for the population of all states in the foreseeable future.
In his speech, the Russian leader noted that the Russian Federation is ready to share experience and continue cooperating with all states and international entities, including in "supplying the Russian vaccine which has proved reliable, safe, and effective, to other countries".
" Russia is sure that all capacities of the global pharmaceutical industry need to be employed so as to provide a free access to vaccination for the population of all states in the foreseeable future," Putin stressed.
He stressed that Moscow is completely open to partner relations and willing to cooperate. "In this context, we are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines," the Russian leader said.
The President stressed that during the pandemic, building on the scientific, industrial and clinical experience of its doctors Russia has promptly developed a range of test systems and medicines to detect and treat the coronavirus, as well as registered the world’s first vaccine, “Sputnik-V.”
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Photo: official website of President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials TASS