A collaboration between the G20&G7 Health and Development Partnership and the UN NCD Task Force was unveiled at the 2024 H20 summit in Geneva, aiming to strengthen global efforts to combat NCDs and mental health challenges through legislative action and increased funding.
On June 19, 2024, at the opening of the H20 summit in Geneva, a bold new collaboration was announced between the G20&G7 Health and Development Partnership and the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs and the Health4Life Fund. This initiative seeks to catalyse domestic and international multisectoral partnerships and scale up financing to reduce the socioeconomic impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions globally.
The collaboration aims to strengthen governance for NCDs and mental health at all levels—global, regional, and national—by leveraging existing and emerging parliamentary forums. This will facilitate high-level policy discussions and promote a unified UN approach to tackling these health challenges. Additionally, the G20&G7 Health and Development Partnership will work to mobilize resources for the Health4Life Fund, supporting countries in scaling up multisectoral action.
A key component of this collaboration is a new initiative designed to engage legislators in raising awareness and promoting active measures to address NCDs and mental health issues. Alan Donnelly, Chair of the G20&G7 Health and Development Partnership, highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting its timely alignment with next year’s dedicated meeting on NCDs and mental health at the United Nations General Assembly.
The initiative’s focus on legislative action is rooted in the belief that effective interventions, such as taxing unhealthy products and implementing regulatory measures, require the support and leadership of parliamentarians. Nick Banatvala, Head of the Task Force and Health4Life Secretariat, emphasized the critical role of legislators in holding governments accountable and driving local action in communities.
Hatice Beton, Chief Executive of the G20&G7 Health and Development Partnership, underscored the urgency of addressing these health issues, citing the enormous economic burden they pose. “The costs of these diseases and conditions to global economies will reach trillions of dollars by the end of the decade,” Beton warned, stressing the necessity of tackling NCDs and mental health to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
This new initiative represents a significant step forward in the global effort to combat NCDs and improve mental health, with legislators playing a crucial role in shaping the future of public health policy.
