[e-drug] WHA: NGO press release on Global Health Fund

["Andy Gray" <@mail.healthlink.org.za>]

E-drug: WHA: NGO press release on Global Health Fund
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all

Below is the text of the press release made by public interest NGOs at the 
54th World Health Assembly following the Director-General's briefing on the 
Global Health Fund.

regards
Andy
--------

Tuesday 15 May 2001
For Immediate Release

Public interest NGOs demand that the Global Health Fund
meets poor countries' needs, not those of industry

(Geneva, Switzerland) Public interest NGOs gathered in Geneva for the 54th 
World Health Assembly today reacted with concern to the Director General's 
first briefing on a historic global fund meant to subsidise treatment, care 
and prevention of diseases associated with poverty, including HIV/AIDS, 
malaria and tuberculosis.

While the NGOs strongly endorse the Director General's announcement that 
civil society would comprise part of the fund's governing structure, 
questions about WHO's specific role in the fund's creation and management 
remained unanswered. "The Director General must clarify the role of the 
World Health Organization in the management of this fund and how she will 
take up this cause in the coming months as important decisions are made" 
said Zafar Mirza of Health Action International.

Kofi Annan, the United Nation's Secretary General, called for the creation 
of a huge health fund with an annual commitment of US$7-10 billion per year 
during a meeting in Nigeria last month. However, the first government 
contribution to the fund has been a US$200 million donation made by the 
United States. "The Bush Administration's decision to give such a small 
amount has already threatened the life of the fund," said Asia Russell of 
the Health Gap Coalition.

The Secretary General will travel to Geneva on Thursday to address the 
Assembly about the fund. The NGOs call on him to champion basic principles 
about transparency, civil society involvement, operational mechanisms and 
to mobilise sufficient resources for the fund. "Millions of people dying of 
treatable diseases cannot afford for him to fail," said Gaelle Krikorian of 
Act Up-Paris.

HAI, Oxfam, ACT UP and the Health Gap Coalition call on Kofi Annan and Gro 
Harlem Brundtland to fashion guiding principles for the multilateral fund 
that are responsive to the needs of people living with or vulnerable to 
infectious diseases. By the time of the UN General Assembly Special Session 
on AIDS, 25 June, donors must have contributed substantial resources toward 
the Fund´s goal of US$10 billion. The NGOs also call for WHO to take up 
this discussion during next month's TRIPs Council session.

HAI, the Health Gap Coalition, Act Up-Paris, and Oxfam UK call for the Fund 
to be guided by these principles:

1. Consumer representation, not industry representation.
The voices of people with AIDS, as well as other consumers, must determine 
the priorities of the Fund. The Fund must function with transparency at all 
levels. Representation from  commercial interests in any governing or 
advisory capacity must be forbidden.
2. Money for purchase of treatment must be maximised through bulk 
procurement mechanisms, and the inclusion of generic drugs.
A system of bulk procurement, driven by a competitive bidding process 
including generic manufacturers, must be used to achieve best world 
prices-regardless of patent status-for life-saving and vital medications.
3. Wealthy nations must contribute billions, not millions to the Fund.
If the Fund is to meet its ambitions of providing treatment, care, and 
prevention for poor people facing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and 
other diseases of poverty, industrialised countries must contribute 
substantial resources now, and over the long term.
4. Strengthened existing health systems.
The fund should be designed to support programmes offering a comprehensive 
package of health services. It should work within an equitable national 
health policy framework.

For more information, contact:
Lisa Hayes, HAI Europe (+31-6) 24 22 58 47
Asia Russell, Health Gap Coalition (+41-79) 470 1752
Gaelle Krikorian, ACT UP Paris (+33 6) 091 77055
Mogha Kamal Smith, Oxfam UK (+44 7720) 255 730

--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Information and archive http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to:  `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.