G20 Declaration on Global Health: Strengthening the World's Health Infrastructure

G20 Leaders Call for Collaborative Efforts to Strengthen Global Health Infrastructure

The G20 Leaders Declaration, released during the New Delhi summit and led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaffirms the global commitment to reinforce the world's health infrastructure. The leaders recognized the need for immediate action and outlined several key initiatives to achieve this goal.

G20 Urges New Donors and Joint Investments for the Pandemic Fund

In a significant move, the G20 leaders called for the mobilization of new donors and co-investment in the pandemic fund. They emphasized the importance of enhanced collaboration between

Finance and Health Ministries through the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF). The G20 leaders acknowledged the progress made, including the first call for proposals by the pandemic fund, and anticipate a second call for proposals by the end of 2023.

A progress report to Finance and Health Ministers is expected in 2024, according to the New Delhi declaration.

G20 Prioritizes Resilience, Equity, and Sustainability in Health Systems

The G20 leaders underscored their strong commitment to reinforcing the global health architecture, with the World Health Organization (WHO) playing a central role.

Their objectives include the development of more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems geared toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Specific actions outlined encompass strengthening primary healthcare, the health workforce, and essential health services within the next 2-3 years. Additionally, the G20 leaders expressed support for a One Health-based approach, aligning with the Quadripartite's One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026), and addressing the challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through this integrated approach.

G20 Emphasizes Equitable Access and WHO Convention on Pandemic Preparedness

The G20 leaders stressed the importance of equitable access to medical countermeasures, particularly in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs), LDCs, and SIDS. They also pledged support for efforts to establish an ambitious, legally binding WHO convention or agreement on Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response (PPR) by May 2024.

G20 Recognizes Traditional Medicine, Mental Health, and Counter-Narcotics Cooperation

The G20 declaration acknowledges the potential role of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in healthcare and advocates for the development of an interim medical countermeasures coordination mechanism and improved access to mental health services. Additionally, it calls for robust international counter-narcotics cooperation to comprehensively address the global drug problem.

Quote from Prof. K Srinath Reddy:

"The G20 nations represent a powerful collective commitment to equitable human development. Health is pivotal to human development. It is the platform on which the G20 can launch many collaborative initiatives to protect, promote, and restore health across the life course of people everywhere."

Conclusion,

The New Delhi G20 Leaders Declaration demonstrates a unified commitment to prioritizing global health, reflecting the evolving priorities of the G20 towards a more sustainable and inclusive global community.

The declaration, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during India's 18th G20 Summit presidency, addresses a wide range of critical issues, including global health, geopolitical tensions, sustainable growth, and fostering an inclusive global society.