G7 performance on health
Health has long featured on the G7’s agenda and compliance has been higher than average – but there is still room for improvement, and there are several ways in which the group can increase momentum in this area
health accounting for only 10% of words in 2017, 6% in 2018 and 16% in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic renewed the G7’s attention on health, with the number of words achieving a high of 72% in 2020, decreasing to 24% in 2021, rising to 36% in 2022 and then decreasing to 17% in 2023. COMMITMENTS G7 leaders have made 588 core collective, politically binding, future-oriented health commitments. These cover, among other issues, strengthening the global health architecture, addressing malnutrition, supporting health research and achieving universal health coverage. Between 1979 and 1999, health commitments represented less than 10% of the total commitments per summit. This rose to 13% in 2000, dropped to 5% in 2001, increased to 10% in 2002 and dipped below 10% for the next three summits before it reached a new peak of 18% with 24%. In response to the pandemic, 2020 produced the highest peak, with 44%. It then decreased to 21% in 2021, 7% in 2022 and 5% in 2023. COMPLIANCE The G7 Research Group has assessed 96 of the 588 health commitments for members’ compliance. Overall, health compliance averages 78%, slightly above the 77% overall average. G7 compliance on health is inconsistent, subject to several peaks and dips. The first commitments assessed in 1983 and 1997 received full 100% compliance. Compliance for 1998 was 68% but dropped to 50% for 1999. It rose to 91% for 2000 and 94% for 2001. Other peaks came for 2003 with 90%, 2007 with 86%, 2012 with 100%, 2013 with in 2006. Other peaks came in 2010 with 17%, 2015 with 16% and 2016
H ealth has featured on the G7’s agenda almost since the leaders first met. They made their first health commitment in 1979 when the G7 committed to working with developing countries on hunger and malnutrition. Since then, the G7 has played a leadership role by working to improve infant, child and maternal health, and addressing infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria and Covid-19. Recognising that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are intertwined and interdependent, the G7 recently adopted the One Health approach in its commitments. This integrated, unifying approach aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS Since the first summit in 1975, G7 leaders have dedicated 63,798 words to health, averaging 1,302 (9%) per summit. They have produced many stand-alone documents on health. Although health first appeared in G7 discussions in 1979, it was not until 1996 that it began appearing at every summit. The highest number of words dedicated to health was in 2016 at 6,087 (for 26% of the communiqué). Between 2001 and 2016, health peaked in the 20–30% range: 2001 had 24%, 2003 had 22%, 2006 had 23%, and 2010 and 2016 had 26% each. The focus on health then decreased, with By Hélène Emorine, senior researcher, G7 Research Group
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G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT — 2024
globalgovernanceproject.org
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