KNCV welcomes G20 leaders Declaration

The Hague– KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation welcomes the G20 leaders Declaration following the G-20 Summit in Hamburg on the 7^th and 8^th of July 2017. Recognizing the crucial role that the G20 plays in advancing preparedness and responsiveness against global health challenges, KNCV would like to firmly support the G20’s emphasis on values of trust-building and cross-sectoral cooperation. Furthermore, KNCV would like to echo the G20’s call to the UN to keep global health high on the political agenda and is glad that combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is now recognized as a crucial component for building resilient economies and realizing a healthy future.

By highlighting the growing threat that AMR constitutes to public health and economic growth, the G20 have the opportunity to show leadership by realizing their stated ambitions to strengthen public awareness and infection prevention and control and increase vital funding for R&D. The Declaration’s specific mention of Tuberculosis is welcomed as a sign of the growing global awareness of the threat drug-resistant forms of TB poses. Now is the time to find the right market incentives, enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and increase awareness to ensure we beat the ticking time bomb that is AMR. The 2016 Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, chaired by Jim O’Neill, had already estimated by 2050, of the 10 million yearly deaths potentially associated with drug resistance, around a quarter will come from drug-resistant strains of TB.

This potential threat, combined with the excellent investment case for tuberculosis, with returns of thirty dollars for every dollar invested, should spur action and help realize significant increases in R&D investment. The upcoming Global Ministerial Conference on TB in Moscow, as well as the UN High Level Meeting on TB, should provide a solid platform for nations around the world to take a stand and make sound investments. By taking the necessary action today, we can alleviate the suffering of millions of people every year, and help realize our goal to end TB.