FIND intervention statement at the G20 Health Ministerial Meeting

Delivered by Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, FIND, Chief Transformation Officer/CEO
30 October 2024, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I commend the Brazilian Presidency for its leadership of the G20 Health Working Group this year and for prioritizing building resilient health systems for stronger global health security and equity.

A key aspect of building health systems resilience is ensuring universal access to essential diagnostics. The Coalition for Regional Production and Innovation can drive this by fostering innovation and diversifying capacity to develop affordable, high-quality tests for those most in need. The Coalition’s efforts can be augmented by collaboration between the G20, international organizations and the private sector to build a skilled regional workforce, strengthen infrastructure, incentivize manufacturers and streamline regulatory mechanisms. It will also be critical to invest in the 100 Days Mission to make diagnostics available, and at scale in the event of another health emergency.

While digital health technologies and AI have the potential to transform diagnostic services, it is essential to ensure their benefits are reaped by all. We must dismantle barriers that restrict access, especially in underserved communities, by fostering collaboration, adopting digital inclusion policies, and building local capacity to ensure that technologies are tailored to meet local needs and are used effectively.

Digital tools can also address the dual threats of climate change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by strengthening One Health surveillance systems. However, without robust diagnostics, efforts to combat both issues will fall short. I urge the G20 to invest in R&D to develop climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable diagnostics, and tools that safeguard new antimicrobial therapies.

As India highlighted, equity must be at the core of these measures. I congratulate the G20 on the Rio de Janeiro Declaration of the Health Ministers and, on behalf of FIND, offer our full support to turn these commitments into action.

Obrigada