Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung was speaking at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit when he made the announcement that Singapore will be contributing US$15 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
The US$15 million will be contributed over 5 years to the coalition, and Ong said that every country has a responsibility to invest sufficiently;y and collectively in global pandemic preparedness.
Here is his statement
At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit, I announced that #Singapore will contribute US$15m over 5 years to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
COVID-19 has reminded us that because of our interconnectedness, we all share a common destiny. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
So we need a coordinated international response to a global crisis.
Every country, big or small, has a responsibility to invest sufficiently and collectively in global pandemic preparedness.
We cannot be sure when and how fast a new pandemic will emerge and spread, but we can and must try our best to stop it.