September 29, 2025
GHTC welcomes strong R&D and innovation mentions in the draft G20 Polokwane declaration
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PATH/Tom Furtwangler
The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) welcomes the strong research and development (R&D) focus in South Africa’s draft health ministerial declaration, which recognizes the vital role of science and innovation in strengthening health systems, advancing equitable access to medical countermeasures, and supporting sustainable economic growth. However, much of the R&D language in the text lacks clear commitments, specific targets, or actionable measures needed to translate these ambitions into tangible outcomes.
We commend the draft declaration’s explicit call to “foster scientific collaboration to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics” and to “develop resilient and sustainable health R&D ecosystems.” The emphasis on building regional manufacturing capacity, reinforcing supply chains, and investing in a skilled health workforce reflects a welcome commitment to a more distributed and equitable innovation ecosystem capable of responding rapidly to future outbreaks. We also welcome the declaration’s endorsement of sustained domestic investment lines for R&D to promote self-reliant science ecosystems.
We applaud the recognition that “international collaboration and efforts to accelerate end-to-end development of therapeutics” are vital to address persistent gaps across the R&D pipeline, including through partnerships between research institutions in low- and middle-income and high-income countries. Specifically, the draft’s focus on strengthening regional science hubs and building “transparent, inclusive, and responsive science advisory mechanisms” echo GHTC’s long-standing advocacy for collaborative and equitable R&D models that leverage regional expertise and ensure innovations are designed for—and accessible to—all populations.
GHTC also notes South Africa’s elevation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in its health agenda. This inclusion in the ministerial text reflects a growing recognition of the threat of AMR and the need for novel health technologies to address it, marking an important step forward during South Africa’s presidency.
While this robust language across the document reflects the progress our community has made in ensuring R&D is recognized as a key pillar of health progress, we are disappointed to see that G20 leaders failed to rally around a clear set of commitments or targets and failed to build on deliverables promised by South Africa’s original health agenda.
For example, while advocates have praised South Africa’s efforts this year to mobilize a coalition for the development of therapeutics, the text lacks the operational details needed to establish the group. It also omits reference to South Africa’s proposed Commission on Science and Innovation for Health and Economic Growth, underscoring the gap between the ambitions that had been outlined and the tangible outcomes that were delivered through this year’s G20 process.
The draft only briefly touches on the Coalition for Local and Regional Production, Innovation, and Equitable Access that emerged from Brazil’s G20 presidency last year. While this was an exciting R&D development to stem from the G20, momentum to carry it forward continues to stall.
Finally, while the text underscores the importance of long-term investments in R&D and domestic resource mobilization, it falls short of offering concrete funding targets or commitments, highlighting a lack of political will among leaders to advance new investments.
As the G20 finalizes the declaration, we call on health ministers to not only preserve the R&D language in the text but to strengthen it with concrete, actionable measures that advance innovation, ensuring that the G20 remains a forum where global health, particularly lifesaving R&D, remains a top priority.
Tags: Announcement