Exeter hosts G7 Health Ministers’ working dinner

Exeter College was the venue for a G7 Health Ministers’ working dinner on 3 June. The event formed part of the 2021 G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting, which was hosted on 3 and 4 June by the University of Oxford.

The Meeting brought together health leaders from the world’s most prominent democracies to discuss life-saving actions in critical areas of global health. Among them was Exeter College alumnus Matt Hancock (1996, PPE), Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has spearheaded the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also among the attendees were Exeter College Rector Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Oxford University Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson, and the heads of some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, which worked in partnership with the University of Oxford to develop a vaccine that aims to be effective, affordable and easy to distribute.

The dinner provided a valuable opportunity to discuss global health security, antimicrobial resistance, clinical trials, and digital health, as well as current issues. It also enabled the public and private sectors to consider how to prepare to face future pandemics together.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Mr Hancock said: ‘Oxford is the birthplace of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine and at the heart of British life science. Oxford is a perfect location to stage pivotal meetings on how the world readies itself to combat future health threats.

‘Collectively we can build back better from this virus and, as I gather with my Ministerial counterparts from the major democratic nations, we have an opportunity to learn from this pandemic and take measures that will develop global health security.’

Professor Richardson said: ‘Oxford University is honoured to host the G7 Health Ministers. This past year has demonstrated just how much can be accomplished when universities, business and government work together to advance global health.’

The Rector of Exeter College, Professor Sir Rick Trainor, said:  ‘Exeter College, which has many biomedical scientists (including Professor Cath Green, a member of the team which produced the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine) among its Fellows and its postgraduate and undergraduate students, is very pleased to have been one of the venues for the important talks which took place in Oxford at the G7 Health Summit.’

The Health Ministers’ Meetings precede and inform health discussions at the G7 Leaders’ Summit, hosted by the Prime Minister on 11 to 13 June.

Matt Hancock pictured with members of Exeter College catering team