Countering corruption in health sector ‘priority’ after pandemic: experts at COSP conference

CAIRO – 14 December 2021: The Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el -Sheikh hosts the ninth Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention against Corruption, which tackles the issue of recovering from COVID-19 pandemic with integrity.  

For her part, Under Secretary General of the UN Ghada Waly stated that the session is a culmination of efforts exerted by the UN and world community to fight corruption, as it comes amid exceptional circumstances as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Africa could better achieve the sustainable development goals and its own 2063 agenda if it fights corruption in its countries,” Waly said in radio statements Tuesday, as quoted by MENA agency.

Addressing a session on anti-corruption efforts in Africa - which was held as part of the 9th Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention against Corruption - Waly said countries of the continent are in desperate need to counter corruption and benefit from every single dollar in service sectors, such as health, education and security.

Waly, also serving as Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said the UNODC is working with the African Union (AU) to train and build cadres to fight corruption.

The UNODC and AU also act together to provide technical support needed in African countries, the UN under secretary added.

She also touched upon cooperation between the UNODC and the private sector and civil society organizations in the face of corruption.

Countering corruption in Africa and the world was a major element on the agenda of the international organization during 2021, Waly told the session.

Experts and officials participating in the conference affirmed that eliminating corruption in the health sector has become a vital priority for various countries of the world in light of the spread of the Corona epidemic.

John Brandolino, Director of the Treaties Sector at the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs, revealed the launch of a guiding scheme for issuing and preparing reports on the health sector to detect corruption

Arkan Al-Siblany, Chief of Regional Technical Advisers to Combating Corruption and Promoting Integrity in the Arab Countries at the United Nations Development Program, stressed the increase in the number of Arab countries that have adopted national strategies to combat corruption, during the last period.

The UN official said that the Corona pandemic (Covid-19) has reduced the areas for wasting any resources through legally undisciplined practices, adding the coming bet for UNDP is to unify efforts to bring about tangible changes towards the effectiveness of the state's tool to confront the repercussions of the dangers of the spread of corruption.

For his part, the head of the Arab Network for Promoting Integrity and Combating Corruption, Alaa Al-Saadi called for accelerating the reconsolidation of Arab ranks with more force than they were before the pandemic, to form a united front in the region against corruption and its practices, expressing his aspiration for greater cooperation for an integrated work to confront the threat of corruption.

This came during the high-level meeting of the countries affiliated with the Arab Network to Strengthen Integrity and Combat Corruption, Tuesday, as part of the work of the second day of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which is held in Sharm El-Sheikh during the period from 13 to 17 December.