G20 health ministers rally support for WHO’s Investment Round

Ministers of health expressed their support for WHO’s Investment Round during a G20 meeting chaired by Brazil held today in Rio de Janeiro.   

The ministers called on all Member States and partners to contribute to WHO’s first Investment Round to fund its new strategy for global health to improve the lives of billions of people, and save 40 million lives, and looked forward to further pledges from G20 members at the Leaders’ Summit on 18-19 November.  

Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “I have asked every Member State and partner to participate in the Investment Round, according to its means. So far, we have 63 pledges, worth more than one billion US dollars. Of these pledges, more than half are from first-time voluntary contributors, including many from the African, Western Pacific and South-East Asian regions. Every contribution counts. Some of the world’s poorest countries have pledged, because they see first-hand the difference that WHO makes.” The Director-General went on to thank the Member States and partners attending the meeting which had already pledged: Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye, the European Union, and the Wellcome Trust. 

The G20 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled on18-19 November 2024 and to be chaired by the President of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will be a key moment during which additional G20 countries and other attendees are expected to pledge predictable and flexible funding to WHO. 

The Minister of Health of Brazil, Nísia Trindade said: ” We need a strong WHO to accomplish its mandate and we call on everyone to contribute to the financial sustainability of the WHO, including by pledging at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.” 

The Minister of Health of Germany Dr Karl Lauterbach said: “A strong WHO is essential for the world. Resilient sustainable financing is essential for WHO. Financing WHO means investing in a healthier future. We call on all G20 partners to stand by their political commitments for WHO. To walk the talk and to increase their predictable and flexible financial support to WHO.”   

The Ministers warmly welcomed the announcement of South Africa’s Health Minister, Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi,  that South Africa “is dedicated to carry forward the sustainable financing journey of the World Health Organization into our presidency of the G20 in the coming year. We are carrying forward the baton from Brazil”.