Australian Academy of Science President, Professor Andrew Holmes, and his colleagues from the S20 Science Forum have presented a position statement on global health to the German Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel ahead of the G20 Summit in July.
“The Ebola and Zika epidemics have shown how disease in one country can have global impact. Infectious diseases are causing at least 15 per cent of cancer cases. And 15 per cent of tuberculosis cases may be linked to type II diabetes,” said Professor Holmes.
These issues illustrate why health will be an important focus at the G20 Summit, along with economic growth and financial market regulation.
The science academies of the G20 states have drawn up recommendations on improving global health and are playing an active role in the G20.
In their joint statement, the academies offer strategies and tools to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases and to strengthen public health systems. The joint document provides a basis for the G20 Summit consultations.
Professor Holmes is in Germany for the Science 20 Dialogue Forum where the statement was presented overnight.
“Global health—specifically the management of both infectious and non-infectious diseases—still causes issues world-wide for individuals, health systems and economies alike,” said Andrew.
“We are calling for strong short- and long-term evidence-based strategies to address these issues.”
In the statement the G20 science academies call for:
Furthering research is a prerequisite for providing knowledge and new tools to meet these challenges.
Media contact: Toni Stevens | M: 0401 763 130
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