MSF warns G20 diluted health commitments
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), also known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières, said on Friday that powerful G20 countries have pushed to weaken key elements of the health ministers' draft declaration ahead of the Nov. 22-23 summit in South Africa.
South Africa entered its G20 presidency under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" and sought to foreground Global South priorities, including climate resilience and debt relief for developing countries. According to MSF’s newly elected president, Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, however, there has been a "significant watering down of key elements" in the health text.
Speaking to reporters in Johannesburg, Abdelmoneim said revisions roll back commitments on issues such as global pandemic preparedness and the role of the World Health Organization (WHO). He criticized moves toward "less obligation, less coordination, and less support," and said it was regrettable that powerful countries had "weaponised" the negotiation process to weaken a previously bold ministerial declaration. He declined to name which countries blocked Pretoria’s recommendations.
"A time of particular importance for G20 countries to unite in support of global access to health for all has instead seen efforts to reduce obligations and coordination," Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim said.
MSF participates in the G20 health working group, which comprises 19 nations plus two regional organisations and represents more than 80% of global economic output. Pretoria hopes its presidency will highlight Global South priorities before handing over the G20 leadership to the United States next year.
The United States has described South Africa’s G20 theme as "anti-American," and President Donald Trump has said he will skip the summit; his public criticisms of South Africa have been widely disputed. The controversy underscores broader tensions among G20 members over how strongly to commit to collective health measures and the role of global institutions like the WHO.
Reporting from Johannesburg. ho/br/giv
