Global Health Coalition Urges G20 Pledge on Pandemics and Neglected Diseases

BERLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

A coalition of global health organisations has called on the G20 to provide leadership in combating pandemics, drug resistance, and major poverty-related and neglected diseases.

The public 'Call to Action' launched in Berlin on April 28 urges G20 health ministers to commit new long-term investment in pandemic preparedness, and health technologies to combat antimicrobial resistance(AMR) and Poverty-Related and Neglected Diseases(PRNDs).

"Meeting health targets outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals will require sustained investment and political will," coalition representatives said.

"As representatives of the world's largest and wealthiest economies, the G20 must provide leadership. As we saw during the recent Ebola crisis in West Africa, the world is woefully unprepared to deal with pandemics. AMR, which includes drug resistant strains of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, diarrheal disease and pneumonia also poses an increasingly serious threat to public health."

We urge the G20 to agree to provide the following:

1. Political leadership to address the inter-related issues of AMR, pandemic preparedness/ response and PRNDs. 
2. Increased financial support and its co-ordination across the G20 and partner countries for global health innovation, including research and development for drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and other health technologies.
3. Encourage business, philanthropic organizations and other financing institutions from the G20 to increase investment. 
4. Make full use of G20 public health and scientific expertise.  

"These are diseases of poverty: 95% of cases are among poor and marginalised populations in low and middle-income countries. They also fuel the cycle of poverty, exacting a heavy economic toll on affected families and communities, which imposes a significant 'growth penalty' on entire regions.  

"Failure to invest now will lead to long-term costs. The World Bank has estimated that, without additional resources, these diseases will push an additional 28.3million people into poverty, increase global healthcare costs by $1.2trillion and cost low income countries more than 5% of GDP by 2050.

"G20 leadership is vital if we are to successfully reduce the global disease burden, lift millions out of poverty and avert billions of dollars of economic and social costs."

1-The 'Call to Action' is launched today at G20 Global Health Innovation event in Berlin.

2-G20 health ministers meeting take places on May 19/20.

Coalition includes:

TB Alliance

Medicines for Malaria Venture

PATH

Sabin Vaccine Institute

CARB-X

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

Global Health Technologies Coalition

For more information/interviews with Coalition: 

Ben Fox +44(0)207930-6353