The Department of Health plans to use the fourth G20 Health Working Group (HWG) meeting to advocate for specific, actionable strategies aimed at operationalising vaccine equity as a fundamental aspect of global pandemic preparedness.
This discussion will address important global health-related issues.
According to the department, this initiative aligns with the Pandemic Agreement recently adopted by World Health Organisation Member States during the 78th World Health Assembly, which took place in May 2025.
This crucial week-long meeting is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, and conclude on Friday, 13 June 2025. The gathering will bring together health leaders, experts, and policymakers from the world’s largest economies, invited nations, and international organisations.
The department believes this meeting is occurring at a critical time for global health as the world is confronting overlapping challenges such as the potential for future pandemics, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and increasing health inequities.
The meeting will serve as an important platform for collective action.
“The plenary will build on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, discuss persistent barriers to accessing countermeasures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and prioritise the expansion of local and regional manufacturing capacity, in regions like Africa.”
Meanwhile, the delegates will examine opportunities for technology transfer, sustainable financing, and regulatory alignment to ensure timely and equitable access to lifesaving tools during health emergencies.
The session is expected to deliver commitments that reflect South Africa’s Group of 20 (G20) priorities of solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
It will also zoom into political and financial support for distributed manufacturing, fair allocation mechanisms, and global cooperation frameworks that embed equity at every stage of pandemic preparedness and response.
“Delegates will also explore the urgent need to strengthen early warning systems, protect frontline health infrastructure from extreme weather, and ensure sustainable use of antimicrobials across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.”
Some of the expected outcomes from the meeting include G20-backed commitments to fund and implement joint action plans on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), establish global standards for climate-health risk preparedness, and scale up technical support for vulnerable regions.
The other critical topics to form part of the discussions include sustainable financing and equitable access to novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, and research and development for regional manufacturing of diagnostics.
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will deliver a keynote address during the official opening session on Tuesday.
He will be joined by Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla. – SAnews.gov.za
