make health a priority at the UK’s G20 next year

The UK is about to take over the presidency of the Group of Twenty or G20. This is a year-long role that gives the UK government the chance to shape the agenda for the world’s twenty largest economies, the European Union and the African Union. While there have already been some big announcements, at the moment there is no mention of global health. In the current global context of pandemic threats, vaccine inequality and the continued prevalence of curable diseases like tuberculosis we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without action on global health.

the UK’s G20 presidency

The UK will be President of the G20 in 2027. It is up to the country hosting the G20 what is discussed and what the priorities are. Usually there are political declarations and announcements that are made at the Summit. The UK last hosted the G20 Summit in 2009 where world leaders pledged to make an additional US$ 1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the financial crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs. 

The government has started to announce details of their plans for G20, including that the Summit will take place in Manchester on 27th and 28th November. Economic growth and AI will be key themes but at the moment there are no specific plans for global health. This is despite the fact that there is a serious and ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, cases of the plague in Russia, decreasing vaccination rates in countries around the world and over a million people dying from tuberculosis each year. 

Now is the time to ensure that the government makes global health a priority. The plans for events are still being developed so there is time to make this change.

why and how you can make a difference

With the agenda not yet finalised, there is still time to demonstrate to the Government that there is demand for action on global health – this is where your voice matters! 

Please write to the Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP asking her to include global health on the agenda at the G20. As G20 involves all government departments it is run from the Cabinet Office and she is the Minister responsible. 

Your letter will build pressure for strong action on global health at G20, and also act to remind the Government of its responsibility to act on things such as pandemic preparedness and prevention. 

The more people who raise this issue, the harder it becomes for the Minister to overlook!

take action!

Please write to Rt. Hon. Louise Haigh in the Cabinet Office asking her to include global health on the agenda at next year’s G20. 

Contact details:

Email – [email protected]
Postal address – Public Correspondence Team, Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AS

You may wish to copy your letter to your constituency MP to increase its political impact (make sure to include your full postal address).

Once you have sent your letter, please let us know by using the ‘I took action’ page on our website. 

Want tips on how to write a good letter? Use this guide.

Thank you for taking action!