Joint Nordic Statement at IPPPR's informal briefing to the UN General Assembly on 28 July 2021

I have the pleasure to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and my own country, Denmark.

Now, even in the midst of a pandemic, the number of covid-19 cases is still again rising in many countries. New variants are spreading. The inequality in access to vaccines is striking. From a Nordic perspective, it is clear that we must do better to handle both this current and future infectious outbreaks. We must take action to prevent, detect and respond more effectively and quickly, together - across countries and across sectors.

The impacts of covid-19 on health, wealth, security and the whole of society demonstrate why pandemic preparedness and response – including its financing – cannot be understood as a health issue only. We welcome the IPPPR report’s whole of government approach, which is needed in examining most needed governance, financing and accountability mechanisms. We need a stronger international system for the future – reducing the risk for and consequences of a new pandemic of this magnitude.

The covid-19 pandemic has highlighted that there is a need for stable and substantial additional internationally pooled financing for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. While the numbers presented may seem high, these investments are small compared to the economic consequences we as governments now are facing, as described by the IPPPR and G20 High-Level Independent Panel reports and as recently stated by the IMF. All countries must pay their fair share. Financing global health security through a joint financing mechanism should be approached as a common insurance to avoid a future crisis of this kind.

In parallel, all governments need to improve national capabilities and increase domestic finance to ensure effective and sufficient financing embedded in strong health systems and efforts to realize universal health coverage.

All efforts must be rooted in norms, guidance and leadership also from a fully financed, strengthened WHO. However, we also need a comprehensive and well-coordinated international system at large including potentially additional mechanisms.

Importantly, we welcome that both the IPPPR and G20 HLIP have addressed that a governance mechanism is needed to provide oversight and accountability, including on financing and the level of preparedness.

As Nordic countries, we support and rely on strong multilateral collaboration for collective action. Global health security should be seen as a global public good, which is in all countries’ interests to achieve.

Our global health security is only as strong as our weakest link. Everybody wins when outbreaks are controlled locally near its source. Everybody loses when outbreaks grow and turn into uncontrolled epidemics or pandemics. We look forward to continuing these discussions and for the UN General Assembly and the Secretary General to take active leadership over the next months.

Thank you.