|
Mr Chairman,
Ministers,
other Contact Group Members,
Peter Piot,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you all to this meeting of the Contact Group.
The purpose of this group is for all parties involved to exchange ideas
and information. In doing so, we ensure the outmost transparency in the
complex, but extraordinarily important work to improve access to care
for those living with HIV/AIDS all over the world.
We have - rightly, I hope - raised expectations in the developing
world with regards to access to HIV/AIDS care. We are all here because
we share the belief that improved access to quality care is possible. A
heavy responsibility lies on our shoulders to achieve results without
delay. Progress depends on co-operation and goodwill among all involved.
The landscape in which we work is changing. We meet at a time of
unprecedented international support for reducing poverty. And at a time
when health takes its rightful place at centre stage in the development
arena.
In July leaders of the G8 nations committed themselves to support a
step changefor - in health outcomes among for poor peoplepoor
communities. They committed to targets set by international fora for
reducing the toll from HIV, from malaria from TB and from diseases of
childhood by 2010.
The European Commission quickly followed responded toup on these
commitments with by a new writing a policy framework for accelerated
action targeted at the major communicable diseases - HIV/AIDS, TB and
malaria - in the context of poverty reduction a renewed focus on three
diseases that are main causes of poverty: malaria, tuberculosis and
HIV/AIDS.
Many of us returned last night from yesterday’s
Round Table meeting in Brussels. There, we discussed the new EC policy
with a wide range of stakeholders. The EU Commissioners are determined
to work together on trade, health, research and development, and to
scale up their efforts to support concerted and concrete action to help
bring about change. This was an inspiring, and perhaps historic meeting.
Not just because of the diversity of actors around the table. Not just
because it is unusual for a major donor to subject its policies to such
open debate. It was inspiring because there was a real acknowledgement
of the need for new forms of contract between the many actors that have
a stake in reducing the price of key pharmaceuticals. I see it as the
seeds of a new beginning - acting together because we agree on a goal,
although we may have different perceptions about the roads to take to
get there. I hope that we can continue our work in the same spirit
today.
Over the past month, I have travelled to five of WHO’s six regions
for the annual Regional Committee meetings At most these regional
meetings, HIV/AIDS was high on the agenda. At each meeting, I have
reported to Member States on the progress of our joint effort. The
response was a strong support and high expectations for this work,
although Member States do not have any illusions that it will be easy to
live up achieve the results we want.
Let me stress a few points I want us all to keep in mind during our
discussions today:
- Countries are at the centre of this work. There is a need to move
faster and expand the joint effort in countries, engaging NGOs and the
civil society in our effort.
- Access to HIV/AIDS-related drugs must be addressed in the context of
overall national drug policies and programmes. Our goal must be to
strengthen - not weaken existing structures. WHO is determined to
enhance its technical support capacity in the areas of HIV/AIDS care and
treatment. This is important.
- We must find ways to establish the reality and extent of the
contribution of the pharmaceutical companies concerning the reduction in
drug price. We are all under tremendous pressure to show the reality and
the extent of various price reduction or donation offers by the
industry.
- We must expand participation in the joint effort by enrolling
companies that could expand the array of pharmaceutical or laboratory
supplies needed for improved HIV care. WHO is committed to the
production and wider availability of quality generics, as well as to
public/private partnerships that may result in better HIV/AIDS care and,
more broadly, better health.
Finally, let me remind you all about the wider context for our work.
Although our focus here is improved access to care, HIV care and
prevention are strongly linked and both must form part of health sector
responses to HIV/AIDS. Although access to drugs is important, it is but
one of the elements of such a response.
We are moving through uncharted landscape and we are dependent on
each other. Let us combine our strengths to achieve results - results
that will benefit millions of people, world-wide.
Thank you. |
