The World Health Organization claimed that health is a basic human right at the opening of its annual summit

Health is not a luxury, it is a basic human right. This was stated by the Director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at the opening of its annual summit on Sunday in Berlin.

An investment, not a cost

“What does it mean to take global health to the next level? New global agreement, new global architecture, new global approach. Because health is not a cost, it is an investment. It is not a simple outcome of development, it is a means. Health care is a fundamental human right, not a luxury.”

3.5% of German GDP

The event host, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, pledged to donate €35 million from his country to the Polio Fund, which continues to wreak havoc in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“The German government will continue its active support for research guided by scientific curiosity. The Research and Innovation Charter is designed for this purpose, as well as our commitment to increase research and development funding to 3.5% of GDP by 2025.”

COVID, climate change and developing country diseases

For his part, businessman Bill Gates announced the delivery of 1.2 billion euros to this fund.

The main themes of these three days will be prevention of new variants of COVID and vaccination campaigns, impacts of climate change on health, along with food security and the consequences of war in Ukraine.