Rory O'Hanlon
Question:74 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the European Union accelerated action programme to combat HIV-AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/01]
Written Answers. - HIV-AIDS Prevention.
In September 2000, the EU Commission issued a communication on accelerated action targeted at major communicable diseases within the context of poverty reduction. The communication focuses on the need for accelerated action targeted at HIV-AIDS, malaria and TB. World wide these three diseases cause the deaths of more than five million people each year with the greatest impact on morbidity and life expectancy in developing countries.
The communication says that the rapid spread of these communicable diseases has become a global emergency which requires an accelerated response. The communication emphasises that the Community's response should complement long-standing and ongoing Community support to strengthen health systems to deliver services that benefit the poor.
The framework for Community action outlined in the communication covers three broad areas: optimising the impact of existing interventions, services and commodities; increasing the affordability of key pharmaceuticals; and increasing investment in research and development of global goods targeted at the three major communicable diseases.
On existing interventions, the communication points out that HIV-AIDS, malaria and TB are largely preventable through existing low cost interventions. The EC will improve its efforts to strengthen health systems, provide for key commodities and pharmaceuticals, support national budgets, scale up effective approaches and improve donor co-ordination. A key element in this approach is the strengthening of innovative partnerships with civil society organisations, support for organisations experienced in the social marketing of health commodities and partnership with private sector distribution networks.
On affordability, the EC advocates that the pharmaceutical industry use tiered pricing to allow manufacturers to offer the lowest possible prices to poor countries. The EC recognises that tiered pricing requires effective measures to be put in place to prevent parallel exporting of the low price pharmaceuticals to the markets of higher price developed countries. The communication also recognises that the Trade Related Intellectual Property Agreement negotiated in the World Trade Organisation permits Governments the flexibility, in cases of emergency, to permit the compulsory licensing of patented drugs. This means that local manufacturers can be licensed to produce generic versions of the drug without the consent of the patent holder.
In the area of research, the communication notes that only 10% of global health research targets those diseases which compromise 90% of the global disease burden. The EC proposes three complementary strategies consisting of large scale and more effective public investment, the development of an incentive package for private investment and participation in a global partnership.
Overall the communication displays a high level of coherence between the different directorates within the Commission. It draws on development, trade, research and public health expertise in a comprehensive policy which tackles the multi-sectoral nature of the response required to fight HIV-AIDS, malaria and TB.
Ireland has welcomed the communication recalling that the Taoiseach wrote to Commission President, Mr. Prodi in January 2000 calling for an accelerated EU response to the rapid spread of HIV-AIDS in Africa.
In our national response to the communication we have also stressed the need for the accelerated action programme to complement existing efforts in the field to strengthen health systems. We have called for the proliferation of international health initiatives dealing with the spread of communicable diseases, WHO's massive effort and roll back malaria, the global alliance for vaccines and immunisations, the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa, etc., to co-ordinate their activities and to work with donors in sector wide approaches to the development of sustainable health systems. We have also called for additional resources to be devoted to the fight against the spread of communicable diseases and for the Commission to prioritise health sector development in the EC aid programme.
The communication on accelerated action will be followed by an action plan which will set out the detailed programme the Commission will implement to achieve the objectives identified in accelerated action. The action plan is currently under discussion and is expected to be finalised in the coming month. It will be discussed at the next Development Council in May.