G20 health experts to discuss funding cuts, aid
The response to donor funding cuts will top the
agenda for G20 health and finance experts on Friday.
They are wrapping up their second Health Working Group meeting under South Africa's G20 presidency at Zimbali near Ballito.
"There is a PEPFAR reduction, but also we have other donors that have reduced their funding. This has affected a number of developing countries, particularly in Africa," said Health Department Deputy Director-General Anban Pillay.
"Seriously, patients don't know where they're going to get the ARVs from, so we need to have a plan. We can't sit back and say, wow, you know, this happened—tough luck. You must somehow find your way.
"I think South Africa will find its way out, but many countries that don't have that kind of economic muscle are not going to be able to. So, does that mean that those patients go without treatment? That's going to be the worst outcome."
Funding universal health coverage has been the focus of the three-day discussions.
READ: SA needs to be prepared for future pandemics – Health DDG
The G20 Joint Financing and Health Task Force will meet on Friday morning to discuss aid cuts.
Last month, Washington confirmed that it would be slashing aid to several countries, including USAID funding for HIV/AIDS programmes in South Africa.
Pillay said there needs to be discussions on how the global community will respond to these changes.
"We have the richest countries in the world sitting here, and we can't simply sit by and watch this thing as a movie. We need to be participants in seeing how do we change that course."
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