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FIND’s Intervention on Strengthening Primary Healthcare as a pathway to Universal Health Coverage at Plenary Session 1 of the 2nd G20 Health Working Group meeting

G20

Delivered by Dorcas Mapondera
26 March 2025  

FIND commends the G20 Presidency for placing primary healthcare at the center of its health agenda and for emphasizing the need to operationalize models of care that are people-centred, equitable, and sustainable.

Dia Gnosis – from the ancient Greek – means to recognize (know) one condition as separate (apart) from another; in other words, to discriminate between health and disease and between different diseases. Without diagnosis there is no early detection, no appropriate treatment, no continuity of care and efficient referrals – and no way to address many of the challenges highlighted in the G20 issue note. Modern diagnostics are the enablers of accurate diagnosis and the key to ensuring that care is not only accessible, but also timely, appropriate, and continuous, especially in underserved communities where delays can be fatal.

FIND is committed to advancing diagnosis through equitable access to affordable and quality diagnostic tools for all.  Drawing from our experience, we offer the following recommendations to support the G20’s efforts to strengthen PHC-oriented models of care:

  1. Enable timely diagnosis and treatment at the first point of contact by investing in point-of-care and self-testing innovations, including multiplex technologies spanning multiple diseases; and
  2. Embed cost effective point-of-care and digital tools in your primary healthcare packages and keenly support the ongoing curation of national essential diagnostics lists, bearing in mind the rapid pace of technological change;
  3. Improve local, geographical access to essential diagnostic tests by using data to design and optimize cost effective diagnostic networks.

Strong diagnostic systems are the foundation for UHC and resilient health systems. We urge the G20 to invest in AI-powered tools for screening and diagnosis, prioritize interoperability standards for data exchange, and align regulatory pathways to support the scale-up of digital innovations.  FIND stands ready to support you.

Thank you.