Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether it is her Department's policy to implement the recommendation in the report by the UN High Panel of Access to Medicines, Promoting innovation and access to health technologies, published in September 2016, that all publicly funded medical research should (a) prioritise public health over financial gain and (b) be open to the public to allow for further collaboration.

DFID supports the aims of the recommendation of the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines. DFID is a long-term supporter of medical and health research, including research to develop new health technologies (including diagnostics, drugs and vaccines). The research funding is provided to organisations that (a) prioritise public health needs over profit and (b) comply with the Department’s open access policy, to enable wide access to findings and allow for further collaboration.