Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the future challenge of a growth in non-communicable diseases identified in her Department's Bilateral Development Review 2016, published in December 2016, what priority will be placed on the shift in balance of communicable and non-communicable diseases in steps taken to implement that review's conclusions.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Bilateral Development Review made clear that Britain will continue to lead global efforts to fight the spread of infectious and communicable diseases, such as neglected tropical diseases, TB, and malaria.
We will also remain a leader in helping countries to build stronger health systems. This will help countries address both current and future health challenges, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The UK additionally supports some specific NCD programmes, for example research on mental health, support for hepatitis B immunisation that prevents liver cancer, safe cook stoves to reduce household air pollution, and improving diagnosis, treatment and care for children with cancer in Burma, Bangladesh and Ghana.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Ross Fund will include funding to tackle HIV/AIDS; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Whilst the Ross Fund is not directly focused on HIV and AIDS, the UK continues to invest in research on HIV and AIDS. This includes research into understanding the structural drivers that can increase HIV (including gender inequality, stigma and limited livelihood opportunities), HIV prevention technologies (such as microbicides and vaccines) and studies to identify cost-effective ways to deliver HIV services.
The Ross Fund will target infectious diseases including malaria, diseases with epidemic potential, neglected tropical diseases which affect over a billion people globally, and antimicrobial resistance which poses a substantial and growing threat to global health. The goal of the Ross fund is to develop, test and deliver a range of new products (including vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to help combat these diseases in developing countries.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what effect Sustainable Development Goal 3 has had on her Department's aid strategy for UK; and what account she plans to take of that goal in forming the new UK aid strategy.
Answered by Nick Hurd
DFID will continue to play a leading role in health globally supporting developing countries to meet the Global Goal 3. DFID’s work on health is also guided by the Government’s International Development manifesto commitments and the new UK Aid Strategy. This work will benefit millions of people, which will avoid needless deaths; and encourage healthier populations who are better able to contribute to their nation’s prosperity; and increase the ability of these countries to develop, which is in the UK’s national interest. We will also help build strong health systems that can sustain the gains.
For example, the new Ross Fund announced in the UK Aid Strategy is a commitment to global public health that will fund work to tackle diseases of epidemic potential, such as Ebola, neglected tropical diseases, drug resistant infections, and malaria. This will directly contribute to the achievement of a number of the global goal health targets.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the £1 billion Ross Fund will be spent.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The £1 billion Ross Fund, announced in November 2015, will target infectious diseases including malaria, diseases with epidemic potential, neglected tropical diseases which affect over a billion people globally, and antimicrobial resistance which poses a substantial and growing threat to global health. The goal of the Ross Fund is to develop, test and deliver a range of new products (including vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to help combat these diseases in developing countries. The finer details about the Fund are currently under development
Asked by: Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the outcomes arising from the Department for International Developments-sponsored product development partnerships.
Answered by Baroness Northover
Public private product development partnerships (PDPs) have been shown to expedite the development of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests, achieving results faster than either the public or private sectors alone.
Prior to the creation of PDPs, only 20 drugs were developed for neglected diseases between 1975 and 2000. Since 2000, UK Government funded PDPs have developed 19 new products including drugs for malaria, TB, neglected tropical diseases (such as sleeping sickness and visceral leishmaniasis), one vaccine for diarrhoea (rotavirus) and six new diagnostic tests (5 for TB and the first ever rapid diagnostic test for sleeping sickness).
Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the proposed target to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases by 2030 in the upcoming Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Answered by Justine Greening
The UK supports a target to reduce the burden of disease from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases. Language on this is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.
The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.