Global disease calls for global response

Global disease calls for global response

The G20, comprising the world’s richest economies accounting for 80% of the global GDP, finally committed to work together to develop a transparent, robust, coordinated, science-based global response to the pandemic, which has affected more than 150 countries, and its health, social and economic impacts. This extraordinary leaders’ summit, organised at India’s suggestion, and held via videoconference, reprises the founding moments of the grouping, convened to respond to the global financial crisis of 2007-08. So far, the response to the crisis has been national, and insular, complete with export bans on masks, medicines, protective gear and vital medical equipment.

The US, with its transactional America First policy, did not play its traditional leadership role. China’s mercantilist approach meant it has focused on repairing and safeguarding its economic interests. The G20 leaders’ summit was an effort to fill the leadership gap. The leaders said that both individually and collectively, no effort would be spared to protect lives, safeguard peoples’ jobs and incomes, preserve financial stability and revive growth — injecting over $5 trillion into the global economy to counteract the pandemic’s impacts. They agreed to work together, to strengthen the World Health Organisation, develop a vaccine and make it available. They decided to share timely and transparent information, materials for research and development and data. Besides expanding manufacturing capacity for medical supplies, they agreed to ensure smooth flows of critical supplies.

These are emergency responses. The G20 must address longterm challenges of pandemics. Merely seeking to balance competing interests, rather than moving ahead in collaboration, could undermine the gains made by globalisation.