Global leaders, health experts, and public and private sector representatives are gathering in Geneva from June 19 to 20 for the annual Health20 Summit (H20). The event is organized by the G20 Health & Development Partnership and co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This year’s summit comes at a time of global uncertainty, marked by geopolitical tension, economic instability, and major funding cuts to development aid. Delegates are focusing on how to build stronger, more sustainable health systems and ensure long-term investment in global health and finance.
The H20 Summit marks the end of the first G20 policy cycle, which began in 1999 as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from industrialized and developing nations. Since its launch in 2017, the H20 Summit has brought together health leaders each year to align development strategies with G20 priorities. The next cycle, starting in 2026, will be led by the United States.
Discussions over the two days are expected to shape outcomes for two major upcoming events: the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in September and the G20 health leaders’ summit in South Africa this November.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the summit with a keynote speech. “WHO thanks the H20 for its leadership at this critical moment. Disruptions in funding and the changing burden of disease mean we need new approaches. Countries must shift from aid reliance to building stronger systems funded by domestic resources,” he said.
Other senior speakers included Bahrain’s Health Minister Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan, Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya, Qatar’s former Health Minister Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Italy’s Health Minister Prof Orazio Schillaci, South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, and GAVI CEO Dr Sania Nishtar.
Two major reports were launched at the event. The first, the NCDs and Mental Health Global Legislators Report, offers guidance to parliamentarians on how to support global health prevention goals. The second, the Health Taxonomy Report, introduces a new investment tool designed to help governments, businesses, and investors align health financing priorities. This comes on the heels of a major health financing resolution passed at the World Health Assembly last month.
Under the theme “Reimagining partnerships & building back public trust in global health,” the summit is examining how public-private partnerships can help close funding gaps and strengthen health systems. It offers a unique space for dialogue between health leaders, financial experts, and policymakers.
The urgency is clear. NCDs like cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases cause more than 43 million deaths annually. Mental health conditions affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide, posing serious risks to economies and societies. The new reports provide practical solutions to help countries address the growing burden.
Minister Dr Jaleela of Bahrain welcomed the launch of the NCDs and Mental Health Report. She emphasized the importance of lawmaking in turning health commitments into results. Bahrain, she said, is building a system based on inclusive governance and strategic investment.
Addressing health financing, Dr Agnes Soucat from the Agence Française de Développement noted the need to distinguish between health funding for operations and health financing for long-term capital investment. Investors, she said, are more focused on the latter.
The G20 Health & Development Partnership, which organizes the H20 Summit, is a non-profit group representing over 27 organizations. It promotes global cooperation on innovation and strategy to fight both infectious and noncommunicable diseases, and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals—especially SDG3 on health and SDG17 on partnerships.
Related Topics
