Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to support research into prevention, diagnostics, treatment and care of neglected tropical diseases; and what plans she has for future financial support for research into diseases for which there is no viable market.

FCDO funded research has helped deliver innovative technologies such as new diagnostics and treatments for NTDs, for example the first rapid diagnostic test as well as the first ever oral only drug to treat all stages of sleeping sickness. For many years, the UK Government through FCDO has supported a range of so-called Product Development Partnerships, which develop novel health technologies for diseases of poverty where commercial markets fail. The Department continues to fund the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, DNDi, as well as the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, FIND, both of which include products for Neglected Tropical Diseases. FCDO also supports applied research for Neglected Tropical Diseases through the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs.

Global health remains a priority for UK Official Development Assistance. We will invest in health systems strengthening through our support for the World Health Organisation (WHO), multi-country global funds and bilateral support for health programmes within countries, including those affected by NTDs. The UK fully endorses the WHO's 2030 NTDs Road map and its focus on sustainability and delivery through health systems.