Health ministers expressed their support for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Investment Round that will be chaired by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro during  the G20 Leaders’ Summit set for November 18th and 19th   

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, which will improve the lives of billions of people and save 40 million lives. They looked forward to further pledges from G20 members at the Summit.  

WHO’s Director-General, 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 USD 1 billion. Of these pledges, more than half are from first-time voluntary contributors, including the African, Western Pacific and South-East Asia 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, including Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye, the European Union, and the Welcome Trust who had already pledged and would be attending the meeting. 

The G20 Leaders’ Summit will be chaired by the President of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. It will be a key moment at 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 its financial sustainability, including by pledging at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.” 

Germany’s Minister of Health, Dr Karl Lauterbach, stated, “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 to WHO, to walk the talk, and to increase their predictable and flexible financial support to WHO.”

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