Building strategic national capabilities ongoing in Hungary

Building strategic national capabilities ongoing in Hungary

Building strategic national capabilities is ongoing in Hungary, the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Friday, pointing out that their absence leads to vulnerabilities in emergency situations, which is a key takeaway from the coronavirus pandemic.

ECONOMY POLITICS OCTOBER 29. 2021 14:28

The pandemic „simultaneously knocked both the healthcare system and the entire economy of some countries off their feet” the statement issued by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reads, quoting the minister’s words when he announced a new investment launched by the healthcare provider Doktor24 Multiklinika today in Budapest. Mr Szijjarto highlighted that one of the key lessons learnt from the pandemic is that

„if a country does not have its own national capabilities and capacities in strategic areas, its resilience in responding to emergency situations will be less successful […] It will become vulnerable and be forced to rely on the goodwill and helpfulness of others.”

This is by no means a desirable situation from the point of view of national security and national strategy, the minister added.

Peter Szijjarto recalled that last spring there was a global shortage of the most essential protective gear while procuring vaccines became a critical issue this year.

Therefore, it was essential to build strategic national capabilities, as this would practically ensure the future security of a state, the minister said. The necessary decisions had already been made in Hungary and the phase of practical implementation had begun, he emphasized.

Hungary is now able to manufacture masks, ventilators, medical devices and medicines, and has its own cargo aircraft. The National Vaccine Production Plant is also under construction, he said, adding that

resistance to epidemics is also an essential condition for economic growth, because if human health cannot be guaranteed, restrictions must be introduced.

The project announced now will create a modern clinical centre on 3,000 square metres with 25 surgeries and 36 beds. The state is providing 287 million forints (794 thousand euros) in funding for the roughly 3 billion-forint (8 million-euro) project of the company, which already has more than 600 specialists operating in seven locations and a hundred surgeries in Hungary.

The health sector has greatly contributed to economic growth in Hungary in this difficult period, the minister pointed out.The performance of the sector employing 125,000 people across the country increased by 10 per cent last year and by 16 per cent in the first half of this year Mr Szijjarto said, concluding his speech.

ECONOMY POLITICS

Tags:

health, Hungary, pandemic