Interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez | Mainstage

In the face of new COVID-19 variants, there is a crucial need to quickly access medical information. For hard-hit Latin America, President Iván Duque Márquez of the Republic of Colombia, decided early on to base his decisions on science, rather than politics. As early as January 2, 2020, President Duque called together an advisory team to address the looming pandemic. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, reiterated the challenge in the early days of the pandemic involved in triaging both patients and information. He then asked about the long history of indigenous medicines in Colombia. President Duque agreed that traditional and modern medicine both played a role in addressing the pandemic.

• During a health crisis, governments need to focus on science as opposed to politics. Doing so is the only way forward.