Health and Medical Care
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by Mr. William (Bill) Henry Gates III, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On December 16, 2015, Mr. William (Bill) Henry Gates III, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation paid a courtesy call to Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, for approximately 10 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows:
1. Prime Minister Abe began by stating that Japan has been promoting the strengthening of health systems and universal health coverage (UHC), which is reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Prime Minister Abe told Gates that Japan places importance on discussions on health-related issues at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and at TICAD VI which will be held in Africa for the first time. Public health emergency responses are also important to the agenda. Prime Minister Abe added that his expectations to elevate cooperation between Japan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2. In response, Mr. Bill Gates said that he also attaches great importance to health concerns while appreciating Japan for prioritizing health and expressed his hope to cooperate with Prime Minister Abe in this field. Mr. Gates commended Japan for hosting the 5th Replenishment Preparatory Meeting of the Global Fund for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria and appreciated the GHIT Fund’s (Global Health Innovative Technology Fund) success in malaria control. Mr.Gates also appreciated Japan’s supports for polio eradication.
3. Mr. Gates added his gratitude to Prime Minister Abe’s initiative on women’s empowerment.