As concern mounts that the US intends to pare down the G20 to its original financial roots, German health minister Nina Warken on Monday called for health to remain a priority.
“Improving global health outcomes requires sustained political commitment. It is therefore crucial that health remain high on the agendas of both the G7 [Group of Seven] and the G20,” she told delegates at the World Health Summit in Berlin.
The international gathering brings together representatives from governments, global health organisations, academia and civil society against the backdrop of an increasingly uncertain future for global health financing.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed deep cuts on foreign aid and withdrawn from the World Health Organisation, while many European nations have cut back on development assistance as they step up defence spending.
Next year France will take over the presidency of the G7 from Canada, while the US will take the helm of the G20 from SA.
Sources told Business Day they expect the US to axe the joint finance and health task force, which was established by Italy when it held the presidency of the G20 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. A number of other countries are lobbying for its work to continue, either under the G20 or in another institution.
Reuters previously reported the Trump administration planned to focus on the G20 leaders’ summit and financial meetings in November, and eliminate other working groups and ministerial-level meetings, including those on energy, health and the environment. The US has also withdrawn from co-chairing a working group with China on sustainable financing.
Germany, one of the biggest contributors to global health financing, announced on Sunday that it would commit €1bn to the eighth replenishment round for the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. Germany’s pledge follows early commitments made by several other countries, including Norway, Spain and Portugal, as well as philanthropist Bill Gates, ahead of a crucial replenishment meeting due to take place in SA on the eve of the G20.
The Global Fund said early pledges were important as they built confidence in its work and helped catalyse additional commitments. With a successful replenishment, the Global Fund could help save up to 23-million lives in 2027-29 while strengthening health systems to fight new outbreaks, it said.
Warken added her voice to calls to reform the financing and governance systems of global health initiatives.
“We are known to be a reliable partner in health — bilaterally, regionally and globally — and we will continue to be a reliable partner in a changing world, but reform and improving efficiency in global health are urgently required,” said Warken
“Covid-19 showed that the global health architecture was not equipped for a crisis [and] recent global developments and cuts in financing have made it painfully clear that substantial reform [is needed]. The world can no longer afford duplication and inefficiencies,” she said.
Disclosure: Kahn’s travel to the World Health Summit was sponsored by Vital Strategies
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