G20 Delhi Declaration calls for implementing 'One Health' approach

"Strengthening Global Health and Implementing One Health Approach. We remain committed to strengthening the global health architecture, with the World Health Organization (WHO) at its core, and building more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage, implement the One Health approach, enhance pandemic preparedness, and strengthen existing infectious disease surveillance systems," the declaration read.

The declaration said that to achieve these goals, focus will be put on strengthening primary health care and the health workforce and improving essential health services and health systems to levels better than pre-pandemic levels, ideally within the next 23 years.

"As well as continuing progress towards polio eradication and ending ongoing epidemics including AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, and water-borne and other communicable diseases, we also recognise the importance of research on long COVID," the declaration said.

"Promote the One Health-based approach driven by the Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026). Enhance the resilience of health systems and support development of climate- resilient and low-carbon health systems in collaboration with MDBs, and support the work of the WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH)," it added.

The document further mentioned that steps will be taken to implement and prioritise tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) following the One Health approach, including through research and development, infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship efforts within respective national action plans through AMR and antimicrobial consumption surveillance.

The declaration further mentioned that Finance-Health collaboration should be focused under the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF).

"We remain committed to strengthening the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) through enhanced collaboration between Finance and Health Ministries under the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF)," the declaration stated.

"Under the JFHTF, we welcome the participation of invited key regional organisations in the Task Force meetings as they enhance the voice of low-income countries. We welcome the discussion on the Framework on Economic Vulnerabilities and Risks (FEVR) and the initial Report for Economic Vulnerabilities and Risks Arising from Pandemics, created through collaboration between the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Bank, IMF, and European Investment Bank (EIB)," it added.

The declaration also calls for the Task Force to continue refining the framework over its multi-year work plan in order to regularly assess economic vulnerabilities and risks due to evolving pandemic threats, taking into account country-specific circumstances.

"We welcome the Report on Best Practises from Finance Health Institutional Arrangements during Covid-19 that will contribute towards joint finance-health sector readiness to support our response to future pandemics," it said.

"We welcome the Report on Mapping Pandemic Response Financing Options and Gaps developed by the WHO and World Bank and look forward to further deliberations on how financing mechanisms could be optimised, better coordinated, and, when necessary, suitably enhanced to deploy the necessary financing quickly and efficiently, duly considering discussions in other global forums," it added.

The declaration also called for the Task Force to report back to the Finance and Health Ministers in 2024 on its progress.

"We welcome the conclusion of the first call for proposals by the Pandemic Fund and look forward to the second Call for Proposals by the end of 2023, based on lessons learned from the first Call for Proposals. We highlight the importance of securing new donors and co-investments. We ask the Task Force to report back to the Finance and Health Ministers in 2024 on its progress," it said. (ANI)