Why did the recent G20 summit focus heavily on global health and economic resilience?

At the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg, global health and economic resilience drew attention because they are closely connected: a health crisis can disrupt work, trade and public finances, while economic shocks can leave health services underfunded.

The pandemic exposed gaps in health systems and preparedness, as well as unequal access to vaccines, medicines and other medical supplies. G20 members have the resources and influence to discuss ways to strengthen preparedness and make health financing and access more reliable across countries.

Economic resilience was also on the agenda because countries are facing overlapping pressures, including debt burdens, supply-chain disruptions, conflict and climate-related shocks. The concern is not just how quickly economies recover, but whether they can protect essential services and livelihoods when the next crisis hits. The summit’s discussions treated stronger public health and more shock-resistant economies as linked parts of that effort.