RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Dr. Fahad Al-Jalajel has emphasized the importance of accelerating the availability of tools for combating COVID-19 during a meeting of G20 health ministers, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. An initiative to speed up the availability tools for fighting COVID-19 was launched during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 in 2020, showcasing the country’s support for international efforts in preventing and addressing health emergencies. Al-Jalajel responded to the Indian presidency’s call to launch a global initiative for digital health, sharing the Kingdom’s experience in the digital transformation of health care and the implementation of artificial intelligence tools. During the launch ceremony, Al-Jalajel underscored the importance of collaborative actions for comprehensive health coverage and ensuring the provision of health care to those in need worldwide. He also participated in a joint meeting of ministers of health and finance, where he said that the Kingdom supported the group’s collective efforts and urged all relevant parties to benefit from the Pandemic Fund. The minister also said that the fund was part of efforts initiated during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 to bridge the funding gap for countries facing dire circumstances.