G20 3rd Health Working Group Meeting: Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (HEPPR)
On 4 June, IFPMA delivered a statement on Priority I “Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” at the G20 3rd Health Working Group Meeting in Hyderabad.
As this is our first time taking the floor, we express our deepest condolences to those impacted by the tragedy [train crash on 2 June]. We also thank the Presidency for the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s first invitation to participate in the G20 Health track.
Regarding Priority I, we are concerned that HEPPR presupposes the outcomes of the WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) negotiations. It includes confusing proposals that are duplicative, fragmented, and not fit for purpose for relevant stakeholders, including the private sector.
We need to maintain enablers encouraging public and private partnerships, strengthen what worked well, including innovation and manufacturing scale up, and together address the need to improve equitable access.
On the role of the Pandemic Fund: We believe that the most impactful use of resources will be on country readiness and health system strengthening.
On surge financing: Financing for purchases remains a bottleneck to ensure equitable access and should be properly addressed in any future mechanism.
While global coordination is fundamental, tasks and decision-making processes that are more efficiently performed nationally or regionally should remain at these levels. We believe that, while the WHO would have a key role, it should not be within a command-and-control structure.
In the spirit of inclusivity, we encourage the G20 to integrate a systematic multi-stakeholder, multi sectoral approach to these discussions, with the private sector consistently included as a critical partner.
About IFPMA
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) represents over 90 innovative pharmaceutical companies and associations around the world. Our industry’s almost three million employees discover, develop, and deliver medicines and vaccines that advance global health. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community improve the lives of people everywhere. For more information, visit ifpma.org.
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