B: Programme For Action: Accelerated Action On Hiv/Aids, Malaria And Tuberculosis In The Context Of Poverty Reduction Commission Of The European Communities: Brussels, 21.2.2001
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Commission's Programme for Action develops
the policy framework presented in the September 2000 Communication on
'Accelerated Action targeted at major communicable diseases within the
context of poverty reduction.'(COM(2000) 585 of 20.9.2000).
It establishes a broad and coherent Community response, over the period 2001-2006, to the global emergency caused by the three major communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which most affect the poorest populations and which undermine global health. The Programme, as part of an expanded global effort, targets actions to increase the impact of existing interventions, the affordability of key pharmaceuticals, and research and development of specific global public goods to confront these diseases in developing countries.
The Commission will prioritise investment in health, aids and population in the context of poverty reduction. A greater focus on communicable diseases will be provided through options including redirection of unspent resources, guidance on future programming exercises and the use of regional funds. More effective aid management processes will speed up the disbursement of funds to improve health.
While the overall approach will be comprehensive, targeting the support for better health in developing countries, the Commission will maintain a major focus on prevention. Investment in strengthening pharmaceutical policies will include the appraisal of opportunities to develop local production capacities. Based on each partner's comparative advantage, the Commission will seek to work in close co-operation with the UN, the G8 partners, the World Bank, civil society and EU Member States to promote the reform of the international financial architecture to enable greater co-ordination, complementarity and efficiency of international funding.
The European Community will seek to increase the affordability of key pharmaceuticals through attention to issues related to taxes and tariffs in developing countries. The European Community will work towards the introduction of tiered pricing as the norm for the poorest developing countries, while seeking to prevent re-importation to the EU market. Investment will build capacity within developing countries on health and trade-related issues, including implementation of the TRIPs Agreement.
The European Community will support new approaches to stimulate the development of global public goods targeting the three major communicable diseases. Action will include increased public support to Research and Development, notably for clinical trials, appropriate incentives to encourage private investment into Research and Development, attention to early dialogue on regulatory aspects and ensuring participation of developing countries in the research process. Building increased capacity for research in developing countries will be a priority.
To meet these objectives, the Commission will explore the use of the full range of available financial instruments to implement this Programme for Action. The framework presented identifies main actions, potential partners and instruments, and will be further detailed within specific work plans following endorsement of this Programme for Action. In the context of this Programme for Action, the poorest developing countries include the Least Developed Countries (currently 48 countries (UNCTAD:2000) and the other low-income countries with a GNP per capita of less than USD 765 (currently 24 countries DAC: 2000).
Appropriate
mechanisms, resources and partnerships will be put in place to monitor
implementation of this Programme for Action, and to participate in a global
monitoring
system encompassing the efforts of all international partners. Successful
implementation of
this initiative will make a major contribution to global efforts to address
the communicable
disease emergency.
The full
document can be read at:
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2001/com2001_0096en01.pdf