COVID-19 shows weaknesses in global health systems

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed “systemic weaknesses” in global health systems, the G20 said Monday, but there was no mention of Washington’s contentious decision to halt World Health Organization (WHO) funding.

The statement came after health ministers from the 20 most advanced economies held a virtual meeting on Sunday hosted by the group’s current president Saudi Arabia following criticism that the institution was slow to address the pandemic.

“Health Ministers recognised that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted systemic weaknesses in health systems,” they said in a joint statement.

“It also has shown vulnerabilities in the global community’s ability to prevent and respond to pandemic threats.”

“Ministers addressed the need to improve the effectiveness of global health systems by sharing knowledge and closing the gap in response capabilities and readiness.”

The worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 166,576 on Monday, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

More than 2,428,000 declared cases have been registered in 215 countries and territories.

The novel coronavirus has upended the lives of billions of people as nations imposed lockdown measures to curb its spread, sending the global economy into a tailspin.

The G20 statement was silent on

US President Donald Trump’s decision last week to cut off Washington’s bilateral funding to the WHO.

Trump has accused the UN body of mishandling the coronavirus crisis. The US contributed $400 million to the WHO in 2019.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the US suspension of funds, saying it was “not the time to reduce” the WHO’s resources. The WHO remained “absolutely critical” in the global fight against the virus, he said.

The WHO said Friday that many countries would likely follow China in revising their death tolls once they start getting the coronavirus crisis under control.