Fiocruz sends G20 NPHIs conference declaration to the Brazilian Health minister

The president of Fiocruz, Mario Moreira, sent the declaration resulting from the G20 Conference of National Public Health Institutes to the minister of Health Nísia Trindade Lima, asking for the suggested measures to be implemented. The declaration recognizes the importance of the bloc of the world's largest economies in building a healthier and more equitable world and recommends that future presidencies of the group invite the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) to the meetings of the G20 Health Working Group (HWG), and that the bloc's ministers of Health include their respective National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) as part of their WG delegations.

Minister Nisia Trindade participated in the Opening Ceremony, in Rio de Janeiro (photo: Peter Ilicciev)

The first G20 National Public Health Institutes Conference took place from September 9th to 11th in Rio de Janeiro, organized by Fiocruz, the Ministry of Health and Ianphi, in partnership with the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Arica CDC). It brought together over a hundred participants at the Rio Othon Palace Hotel, in Copacabana. At the end of the event, the NPHI representatives took a base text back to their countries to continue the discussion, which resulted in a two-page declaration signed by Mario Moreira; Ianphi president, Duncan Selbie; and Africa CDC deputy director general, Raji Tajudeen, which was forwarded to ministers of each of the participating institutes.

In addition to recognizing the relevance of the G20 for a more sustainable future and the bloc's priorities, such as pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the declaration emphasizes that NPHIs are in a unique position, as a government resource and within the global network, to strengthen and build resilient public health systems in accordance with Essential Public Health Functions.

Key components of health systems, NPHIs are committed to supporting governments in epidemiological surveillance, workforce development, research and innovation, in addition to collaborating, leading and advising on strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases, support universal healthcare and improve preparedness and response to illnesses.

Additionally, the declaration calls on the Ministers of Health of the G20, the African Union and the European Union, among other points, to strengthen the mandates and authorities of NPHIs in order to lead collaborative surveillance aimed at preventing and protecting populations from health threats; and to provide the necessary resources for the institutes to prevent and respond to health threats, including accessible and sustainable financial mechanisms.

The text also calls on ministers to support the adoption of the recommendations from the IANPHI Roadmap for Health and Climate Change Action as a tool to address the health impacts of climate change; ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures by promoting local and regional production of medicines, vaccines and strategic health supplies; recommend that future presidencies invite IANPHI to the G20 Health Working Group meetings; and that the bloc's Ministries of Health include their respective NPHIs as part of their WG delegations.

Read the original declaration in full.