SG contributes US$15m to pandemic preparedness coalition

The contribution will be spread out in the next five years.

Singapore Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced the country is contributing $20.47m (US$15m) to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) during the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit on 9 March. The contribution will be spread out in the next five years.

The CEPI aims to strategise pandemic preparedness through vaccine development and production, research and development, and scaled-up manufacturing and distribution capabilities. Ong said these strategies require increased collective financing and action.

"COVID-19 reminded us once again of our interconnectedness, that all of humankind shares a common destiny. All countries, large or small, have responsibilities to collectively rectify the longstanding underinvestment in pandemic preparedness. We strongly urge all countries to contribute towards our common goal of a strengthened global health system and emerge stronger together from the pandemic, " he added.

Ong also said Singapore welcomes technical exchanges and collaborations with CEPI.

US$1 = SG$1.36