G20 Declaration on Health

Abstract

Health ministers met to discuss global recovery and the G20 Declaration on Health was subsequently published. It sets forth the G20's intentions for achieving global health goals, including tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and fulfilling priorities surrounding healthy and sustainable recovery, One Health resilience, coordinated and collaborative responses and the accessibility of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. A key focus is on collaboration and people-centred preparedness, a need for which was highlighted by the pandemic, as well as strengthening healthcare systems through continuous investment. The Declaration underlines the need to, 'strengthen our collective preparedness to prevent, detect, report, and respond to health emergencies and notably promoting resilience of health systems and communities; to create trust by exchanging reliable information, data and scientific knowledge in a timely manner to develop science- and evidence-informed policies, measures and tools; and to sustain financial support and economic recovery in order to achieve full implementation of the 2019 Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).' A primary commitment for the G20 health ministers is providing 'timely, equitable and global access to safe, affordable and effective COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs).' This includes promoting confidence in vaccines by providing reliable information. Further important elements of the Declaration are whole-society cooperation and cross-border collaboration, as well as the importance of a One Health approach. Concerns that emerged from the meeting were antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food systems and environmental health. Solutions will involve improved surveillance of antimicrobial use and the rise of resistance to new and existing therapeutics.