G20 chair Indonesia seeks standardized health requirements for travel

Asean News Published 1 year ago on 30 March 2022 | Author TIN Media
INDONESIA:

Indonesia, as chair of the Group of 20 major economies (G20), has begun negotiations with members on standardizing health standards for travel, according to its health minister, who stressed the significance of harmonizing rules and technology when global travel resumes.

"Every person on this planet who travels... may do it more efficiently," Budi Gunadi Sadikin said at a news conference in Yogyakarta, where standardizing requirements is being explored.

Countries are preparing to launch a global website to scan and check travelers' vaccination status, according to an adviser to Indonesia's health minister, Setiaji.

All G20 members support the deployment, but China would not participate for the time being "because of technical issues," he said.

 also stated that Indonesia has explored simplifying regulations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union to facilitate travel between the two regions.

His comments come as several countries ease restrictions to boost tourist and business travel, including Indonesia, which last week lifted quarantine rules after two years of tough border controls. find out more


Garrett Mehl, head of the World Health Organization's Digital Health Technology Unit, said at a separate news conference in Yogyakarta that standardizing health protocols for travel was critical because certificates issued in different countries are currently incompatible, making travel more difficult.

A standardized certification mechanism "would ensure that it will work in another country, that it will be trusted, and that it will be verified," he said.

"Right now, that's a challenge."

The G20 meeting will be held in Indonesia later this year, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has loomed large in recent discussions, with some members demanding for Moscow to be blacklisted.