Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his answer of 22 September 2022 to Question 45706 on Fungi: Infectious Diseases, and with reference to the World Health Organisation's fungal priority pathogens list to guide research, development and public health action of 25 October, if he will make his policy to increase funding for research in this area.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is supporting the ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’, which commits to undertake research on antifungal resistance. In the last five years, the NIHR has invested more than £6 million in research into fungal infection and anti-microbial resistance is a priority for future research. However, it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. The Department works with other Government departments and funding agencies as well as the World Health Organization on the approach to antifungal resistance.