The 3rd Saving Lives Sustainably: Sustainable Production in the Health Sector Global Forum 2020 is taking place on 18-19 November 2020, under the theme, “Recovering Better after COVID-19 with Sustainable Production and Procurement of Health Commodities.”

The virtual event will take place as a pre-event to the G20 Saudi Arabia 2020 Riyadh Summit, and is organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) of the Government of Saudi Arabia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Secretariat of the UN informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (SPHS) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), with the support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The Forum is an opportunity for suppliers, manufacturers, policymakers, technical experts, academia, civil society organizations and others active in the global health sector to explore the front-running sustainable consumption and production patterns and the latest innovations in the context of COVID-19 and beyond.

The Forum will host some of the world’s most eminent thinkers, practitioners and organisations who will inspire and open discussion on sustainable production, procurement, and supply in global health.

In the forum, H.E. Dr. Hisham Aljadhey, CEO, Saudi Arabia Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Mr. Ahmed Alhakbani, Customs Governor, Saudi Arabia and H.E. Mr. Niclas Trouve, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, will have a speech. In addition to more than twenty five speakers of scientists, experts and specialists.

Sustainable production supports organizations not only to reduce environmental, health, and safety impacts, but also to save resources and enhance competitiveness.

Suppliers and manufacturers from across the global health care industry face a set of issues, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from environmental degradation and to the intensive use of resources, and from the handling of hazardous waste to occupational health and safety risks.

Given their mission-driven commitment to improving human health, suppliers and manufacturers operating in the health sector have the potential to become leaders in the transition of the global economy towards a more sustainable world.

The Forum will enable participants to engage in sessions such as, Responsible Business Practices, Medical Devices and Safety, Food Safety and Risk Assessment, Supply Chain and Gender, and explore how the world can prepare for the next public health crisis.

The participants will be able to generate a list of good practice examples and specific suggestions on introducing sustainable production, procurement and disposal practices in the health sector. These practices and suggestions will be compiled into a report that will be made available to the public following the event.