On 21 September 2023, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs attended the Foreign Policy Global Health (FPGH) Foreign Ministers’ Breakfast Meeting, hosted by South Africa as FPGH Chair, under the theme of “Back to the Basics: Towards Addressing Global Health Challenges through the Foreign Policy Space” at the Permanent Mission of South Africa in New York. 

The Meeting aimed to discuss possible cooperation between Members of the Group, especially the role of foreign policy in driving health agenda, including (a) how to sustain political leadership to address evolving global challenges; (b) how to drive progress on health financing and equitable access to medical countermeasures to increase global preparedness for future health emergencies; and (c) how to find innovative solutions for better pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR), as well as for a sustainable recovery of societies and economies after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Foreign Policy and Global Health (FPGH) Initiative was established in 2006 as a cross-regional platform for cooperation among seven Members, namely Norway, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Thailand, focusing on the interconnectedness between health and foreign policy. Every year, the FPGH presents a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly for consideration under health topic selected by FPGH Chair.

As incoming FPGH chair next year, Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with FGPH members to further advance health through foreign policy and to achieve ‘Health for ‘Health for All.’