South Africa will host the second G20 health working group meeting in KwaZulu-Natal next week.
The meeting is among a series of countrywide G20 events taking place throughout the year as South Africa has assumed the G20 presidency.
According to the national Department of Health, the three-day meeting will take place under the theme “Accelerate Health Equity, Solidarity and Universal Coverage” and will consist of several side events that will create a platform for delegates to hold bilateral and multilateral engagements on various critical issues, including health systems strengthening and promoting equitable access to health services. The meeting will be held from March 25 at The Capital Zimbali Resort.
Some of the critical issues that form part of the discussions include:
- Financial protection for universal health coverage and sustaining health financing in a challenging global economy for universal health coverage
- Strengthening investments and advancing universal health coverage
- Bridging the equity gap to accelerate action to address the burden of non-communicable diseases
- Responding to the global health financing emergency.
The department said a co-sponsored event on the elimination of cervical cancer will also be held on the margins of this meeting. The meeting is expected to be attended by delegates from G20 countries, invited countries, and representatives from international organisations.
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will deliver a keynote address during the opening session on March 26. He will be accompanied by Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla; Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli; and provincial Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane.