Motsoaledi appeals to G20 nations to prioritise spending on public health

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi has appealed to G20 nations to prioritise spending on public health.  

He said that during uncertain global times, health should be a priority and not a commodity.  

Addressing the second G20 Health Working Group meeting in Zimbali, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Motsoaledi stressed that promoting equitable access to health services should be a key focus area.  

Over the next three days, the G20 Health Working Group will be meeting under the theme: accelerating health equity, solidarity and universal coverage.  

Motsoaledi has told the gathering that South Africa is already hard at work to realise universal health access under the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act.  

He said spending on health should be viewed as an investment, and nations should allocate more money for this purpose in their budgets.  

“For many nations, debt relief is not a luxury, but a necessity. We must explore mechanisms that allow countries to allocate resources towards health.”  

Motsoaledi said the G20 also needs to find solutions to the prohibitive costs of financing healthcare systems.  

“We must prioritise health financing, address inequities and work together to build resilient health systems.”  

Motsoaledi said quality healthcare should not only be afforded to those who can pay for services.