Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi has called on G20 nations to prioritise public health funding, emphasising that healthcare should be seen as a necessity rather than a commodity, especially in uncertain global times.
Speaking at the second G20 Health Working Group meeting in Zimbali, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Motsoaledi stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
The three-day gathering, held under the theme Accelerating Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage, aims to address global health challenges and strengthen healthcare systems.
Motsoaledi highlighted South Africa’s commitment to achieving universal health access through the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act.
He urged nations to view healthcare spending as an investment and to allocate sufficient resources within their budgets. He also stressed that debt relief is essential for many countries, enabling them to redirect funds toward public health.
Additionally, he called for collective efforts to address the high costs of financing healthcare systems, advocating for increased health funding, reduced inequities, and the development of resilient healthcare structures.
He reaffirmed that access to quality healthcare should not be limited to those who can afford it but should be available to all.
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