G20 Leaders Pledge To Strengthen Health Systems In 2-3 Years

In the New Delhi Declaration, G20 leaders have committed to strengthening global health systems, aiming to surpass pre-pandemic levels within the next two to three years. Their joint statement underscores a focus on improving essential health services and systems, with an emphasis on building resilience, equity, sustainability, and inclusivity in healthcare initiatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a central role in this commitment, and the leaders also endorse the One Health Approach to enhance pandemic preparedness.

G20 leaders are committed to several critical health objectives, including:

• Polio Eradication: The G20 nations will actively strive to eliminate polio, contributing to the global efforts to eradicate this disease.
• Ending Ongoing Epidemics: The leaders are dedicated to putting an end to persistent epidemics, notably AIDS and tuberculosis (TB), by implementing targeted interventions and initiatives.
• Strengthening Primary Healthcare: The G20 members will prioritise the improvement of primary healthcare systems, recognising their vital role in delivering essential services and ensuring public health.
• These initiatives collectively represent the G20″s commitment to improving global health outcomes and addressing pressing health challenges.

Key points in the declaration include:

• An enhanced focus on strengthening primary healthcare and the health workforce.
• Continued efforts towards polio eradication and addressing ongoing epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, and water-borne diseases, along with recognising the importance of researching long COVID.
• Collaboration with Multilateral Development Banks to develop climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, in support of the WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).
• Prioritisation of tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through the “One Health” approach, encompassing research and development, infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship within national action plans.
• Facilitation of equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical countermeasures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), least developed countries, and small island development states.
• Anticipating a successful outcome in ongoing negotiations for a legally binding WHO convention or agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response by May 2024, along with amendments to enhance the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).
• Acknowledgement of the potential role of evidence-based “Traditional and Complementary Medicine” in healthcare, recognising international efforts in this domain, including WHO”s global and collaborating centres and clinical trial registries.
• Pledge to support the WHO-led inclusive consultative process for developing an interim medical countermeasures coordination mechanism, emphasizing the involvement of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other developing nations, leveraging regional research and manufacturing capabilities, and enhancing last-mile delivery.
• Commitment to promoting and improving access to mental health services and psychosocial support in an inclusive manner.
• This joint declaration reflects the G20 leaders” dedication to advancing global health and addressing critical healthcare challenges.