§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to improve health delivery mechanisms in developing countries to ensure the dispersal of World Health Organisation-approved generic anti-retroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement. [142621]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID is committed to working with others, including our donor partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
With the World Health Organisation, DFID believes that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines.
In line with this, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since May 1997 to support the strengthening of health and supply systems in developing countries, which will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection of drugs. The UK has also pledged $280 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This will help pay for increased coverage of proven interventions for the three diseases and some associated health systems strengthening. According to UNAIDS, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor for HIV/AIDS programmes.
DFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. We welcome recent reductions in the price of both patent and generic anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV. These reductions have created new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. We will continue to work with the WHO, the patent based and generic pharmaceutical industries and others to further reduce prices. DFID supports the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will coordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his discussions regarding HIV and retro-viral drugs for developing countries. [141931]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. Recent reductions in the price of anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV has created 549W new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. This is why we support the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005.
DFID, the World Health Organisation and others believe that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines. DFID is committed to continuing our discussions with others, including our G8 partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will coordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.