National Public Health Institutes conference ends with request of support from G20 

After three days of meetings in Rio de Janeiro, representatives from National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) produced a draft that will form the basis of a declaration to the G20 Health Ministers, to be approved in the coming days. As they bid farewell to Brazil, two key points were established: they urge the G20 ministers to support the organization of future events like this NPHI Conference and to back the IANPHI Roadmap for Health and Climate Change Action.

The conference gathered more than 100 representants in Rio (photo: Cristina Azevedo)

The G20 National Health Institutes Conference was organized by Fiocruz, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), in partnership with the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). It brought together around 100 IANPHI members at the Rio Othon Palace Hotel, in Copacabana. With support from the G20 Health Working Group, the NPHIs reviewed their roles in implementing the priorities set by the G20 ministers. They acknowledged the G20's importance in building a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future and recognized that their unique position, connected to national governments and technical and scientific capabilities, allows them to work to help strengthen their countries' health systems. 

Over the three days, discussions covered topics such as pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR), health equity, resilient national health systems, and the intersection of climate change and health. Key highlights included mutual collaboration to achieve the priorities set by Brazil’s G20 presidency, which focus on equitable access to health and medicines, strengthening health systems, data sharing, and supporting workforce development. 

"The institutes will work within their national territories, incorporating G20 priorities into national policies, and will collaborate globally," explained the director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Global Health Diplomacy and South-South Cooperation, Paulo Buss. He emphasized the importance of equity and addressing social determinants of health. "We know that our populations face issues that are not solely diseases but include social, economic, environmental, and political determinants. NPHIs aim to understand and address these issues to improve the health of their countries' populations and globally. That was the goal of organizing this conference," Buss said at the closing remarks, representing Fiocruz president, Mario Moreira. 

Buss also led Fiocruz years ago, and it was during his tenure that Ianphi was established in a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, in 2006, with 39 founding members. Today, the association has 123 members across 103 countries and has established regional networks in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America to collaborate on capacity development and address national and regional public health challenges. 

"This was the first meeting of G20 NPHIs, along with Africa CDC, to consider how to leverage our scientific expertise in support of the G20 ministers' initiatives," said IANPHI president, Duncan Selbie. "We want to use our support to improve health not only for populations in G20 countries but globally. This is the first of many meetings." 

One of Ianphi’s goals is to present to the G20 Health Ministers a request for support for their Roadmap for Health and Climate Change Action, which outlines five priorities: advocating for strengthening NPHI's capacity to contribute effectively to research, policies, and actions on climate and biodiversity; improving capacity, competency, and training through peer support and knowledge sharing among institutes; increasing collaboration with international and regional organizations active in public health and climate change; supporting the environmental sustainability of public health services; and monitoring progress in NPHI involvement in climate change policies through key indicators. 

The plan is to continue working to finalize a declaration to be sent to the G20 Health Ministers in the coming days. 

Read more: Fiocruz organizes meeting of National Institutes of Health in Rio amid Brazil's G20 Presidency