Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has cautioned that no nation is safe from global health crises as long as inequality in healthcare access continues to divide the world.
Speaking at the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Polokwane, Motsoaledi said progress toward universal health coverage has stalled, leaving billions of people unable to afford basic medical care.
He urged countries to make primary healthcare the foundation of their health systems, describing it as the most effective way to protect communities and prevent disease.
“Primary healthcare is not the poor cousin to hospitals,” Motsoaledi said. “It is the smart, effective delivery model. Our systems must be people-centered and tackle the social and economic causes of ill health — not just the symptoms.”
He called for political courage to address poverty and inequality, saying, “Overcoming poverty is not an act of charity; it’s an act of justice.”
Motsoaledi also raised concerns about the commercialisation and financialisation of healthcare, warning that access to medicine and treatment should not depend on wealth.
“We must be vigilant against the trend of turning healthcare into a market commodity, available only to those who can afford it,” he said.
The minister emphasised South Africa’s commitment to investing in health workers and strengthening local production of vaccines and medicines in developing nations, ensuring greater self-reliance and equity in global health systems.