A commitment to invest in our common health

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the health ministers of France, Germany, Mauritania and Norway on why the world should support the historic first WHO Investment Round

AlMajalla

A commitment to invest in our common health

Al Majalla - London

last update on 14 Oct 2024

This article was co-authored by Geneviève Darrieussecq (Minister of Social Affairs and Health, France), Karl Lauterbach (Federal Minister for Health, Germany), Abdallahi Ould Wedih (Minister of Health, Mauritania), Jan Christian Vestre (Minister of Health and Care Services, Norway), and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General, World Health Organisation).

We all value our health and the health of those close to us. Yet despite great strides in science and innovation, our health is under threat, even in the most developed countries. As leaders in health, we have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of our citizens, and we must do so equitably—no one should be left behind.

We know this is a necessary investment to help ensure and build the wealth of countries and and establish trust in governments, global institutions and multilateral approaches to advancing health for all. One of the most important steps is to support and strengthen national health systems, as all countries have committed to do by signing on to the Sustainable Development Goals.

But we know that this alone is no longer sufficient—all countries must invest in their common safety and protection: no one is safe until everyone is safe. We can only do this by looking beyond regional and global borders. We must strengthen health systems and health security worldwide, supporting all countries around the globe—especially the least developed. We have expressed this through statements and action at the UN and other multilateral formats.

All countries must invest in their common safety and protection: no one is safe until everyone is safe

WHO Investment Round

One of the most cost-effective and sustainable investments that can be made for a healthier, safer world for all is to invest in a technically and operationally robust World Health Organisation.

In representing 194 countries, WHO has a unique reach and mandate to serve as the guiding force in global health, convening scientific excellence, national decision-makers and health partners alike. But to succeed, WHO must be equipped to be flexible, reliable and efficient. That is why WHO's member states have decided to invest in the organisation and support the historic first WHO Investment Round.

The WHO Investment Round, which will take centre stage at today's (14 October) World Health Summit in Berlin, offers a unique opportunity for countries to come together in support of global health. Every dollar invested in WHO delivers a return of $35 and can contribute to saving 40 million lives over the next four years. Full, sustainable funding of WHO will enable it to support countries in building healthier, stronger, and more prosperous communities.

Many governments have made commitments to global health by supporting the vaccination of children, the fight against HIV/AIDS and the eradication of polio, the creation of community health programmes and building of hospitals, and supporting research and science. But these successes and programmes are under threat as simultaneous crises put national budgets under immense strain.

Sustainable funding of WHO will enable it to support countries in building healthier, stronger, and more prosperous communities

Hard-won lessons

Yet COVID-19 taught us that in today's hyper-connected world, disease outbreaks can carry the potential of a pandemic, which can inflict much greater economic and social losses than the essential investment needed to prevent and respond to them. Outbreak by outbreak, we have learned that such investment requires a comprehensive societal and government response and commitment.

At the same time, it demands international solidarity and agreements so countries know when the next crisis strikes, they can rely on one another, whether that be to share knowledge and countermeasures or support actions that prevent major disruptions in international trade and commerce, all in order to protect people's lives and livelihoods.

Every child without a vaccination, every village without a community health worker, and every outbreak tests our commitment to health equity. We must rise beyond narrow interests to support the most vulnerable—and, in doing so, protect us all.

We maintain that one of the soundest investments in global health is in WHO. Countries are doing so, already, through their regular contributions. However, there is a clear understanding that this is insufficient in times of crisis. That is why the WHO Investment Round is so important: investing in WHO is both a financial commitment to the organisation and a political commitment to multilateralism. Above all, it is an investment in global health.

We ask others to join us. We must work together.

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