The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is one of 19 science academies that has endorsed a call emphasising the need for evidence-based strategies to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases which continue to seriously endanger individual well-being and global health, and threaten the global economy.

Strong short and long-term evidence-based strategies are needed. The G20 Academies of Sciences call for (1) the strengthening of health care and public health systems, (2) applying existing and emerging knowledge, (3) addressing the broader social and environmental determinants of health, (4) reducing serious risk factors for disease through education and promotion of healthy life styles, (5) ensuring access to health resources globally, and (6) enhancing and extending robust strategies for surveillance and information-sharing. Furthering research is a prerequisite for providing knowledge and new tools to meet these challenges.

ASSAf participated in the drafting of this statement through Professor André Kengne from the Medical Research Council, with input from the Academy’s Health Standing Committee. The Academy was represented by Vice-President Prof Barney Pityana when the statement was handed over to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany on 23 March 2017.

The full statement for download under:www.leopoldina.org/en/global-health