Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2022 to Question 106425 on Health Services: International Cooperation, for what reason (a) Ministers in his Department have not met with the World Health Organisation Director General and (b) no one in his Department has met with the United Nations Secretary General to discuss global health reform after the covid-19 pandemic; and whether any such meetings with Ministers in his Department have been requested by the (i) World Health Organisation and (ii) United Nations.

The Government has regular contact with the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), including through the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and the WHO Executive Board. The Departmental Ministers usually meet the Director General at the annual World Health Assembly and did so this year and will continue to do so in other fora. The Department of Health and Social Care works with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on issues related to global health and via its relationship with the United Nations General Secretary.