§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps she will take to ensure poor countries have sufficient say on where money is distributed within their countries from the global health fund; [32118]
(2) what progress has been made in ensuring that the global health fund will utilise countries' existing co-ordination mechanisms and experience. [32119]
§ Clare ShortAn underlying principle of the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, for which the UK argued strongly, is that, except in narrowly defined circumstances, proposals must come from country co-ordination mechanisms which bring together developing country governments, private sector, non-government organisations and civil society. The fund will use existing country co-ordination mechanisms wherever possible. These mechanisms will be free to shape their applications around their own assessment and experience of in-country priorities. A final decision on which proposals to support will be made by the GFATM Board which has equal representation of donors and developing countries.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what work the global health fund will undertake to ensure necessary drugs will be more freely available in less developed countries to combat(a) HIV/AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria; [32113]
(2) what direct assistance the global health fund will provide for poverty reduction in Africa. [32114]
§ Clare ShortThe global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has been established as a new public-private partnership to mobilise additional financial resources to make more and better drugs and commodities for the prevention and treatment of malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS available in the poorest countries, many of which are in Africa. It will also provide some associated health systems strengthening to ensure supplies are delivered safely, effectively and equitably. As the recent report of the Commission for Macro-economics and Health indicated', such investment in health will play a vital role in the wider fight against poverty in Africa and elsewhere.
1 Macro-economics and Health: Investing in Health for Economic Development, Jeffrey D. Sachs, 20 December 2001, World Health Organisation