[Ip-health] speech by eu commission president on role of private sector in the
fight against hiv
Michelle Childs
michelle.childs@cptech.org
Fri May 26 07:44:20 2006
Jos=E9 Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
Getting down to business: the role of the private sector in the fight
against HIV/AIDS
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS Award Ceremony
London, 22 May 2006
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Reference: SPEECH/06/323 Date: 23/05/2006
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*SPEECH/06/323*
*Jos=E9 Manuel Barroso*
President of the European Commission
*Getting down to business: the role of the private sector in the fight
against HIV/AIDS*
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS Award Ceremony
*London, 22 May 2006*
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS for
inviting me to speak to you tonight, and for your leadership in
spearheading the private sector=92s contribution to the fight against
HIV/AIDS.
Let me start with a question about the fight against AIDS: is the glass
half full or half empty?
In the developing world, for the first time, there is a decline in the
number of new infections in 11 countries. And yet several eastern Europe
countries are now registering the fastest increase in new infections in
the world.
The number of patients treated with lifesaving antiretroviral therapies
in the developing world has increased by 800 per cent in the last three
years. And yet still only one in six Africans who need this therapy are
receiving it.
Let us say the glass is half full. Let us welcome the role of the Global
Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria; launched in Brussels five years ago,
it has already become the major financing instrument to confront these
epidemics at the global level.
The EU and its Member States are the biggest contributors to this fund.
I want this to remain the case. Over the next 12 months or so, as it
holds the Vice-Chairmanship of the Fund, the European Commission will
intensify efforts to make it an even more successful partner at country
level.
The fund=92s success means its financial needs are increasing. But public
donors cannot meet these needs alone. Additional financing will have to
come mainly from new sources, including private donations. That=92s why
increased support from you, the private sector, is essential.
In this context, I am pleased to see American Express receive
recognition tonight for its innovative RED campaign. Finances raised by
companies through this campaign go directly into the Global Fund. I
encourage other businesses to follow this lead.
And if I may make a brief detour here: the EU=92s delivery on its
commitments to the Global Fund, fits into the wider European commitment
to the developing world =96 in particular Africa. That commitment is
essential to the identity of a new generation of Europeans, just as
co-operation rather than conflict in Europe was to a previous generation.
At the G8 Summit in Gleneagles last year, I and other leaders pledged
action for Africa on a range of issues, from peace and stability to the
promotion of good and responsive governance; from investing in people to
promoting growth; from financing for development to partnership and
mutual accountability.
Have we made progress?
Let us take aid: the EU and its Member States agreed last year to double
their aid by 2010, with half of that going to Africa. 80% of the =8050
billion extra aid agreed last year in the G8 will come from Europe.
Let us take trade: the EU is the most open market in the world to
products from the poorest countries. In fact we import more goods from
Africa than all the rest of the G8 =96 plus Australia and New Zealand =96
combined!
Let us take debt: since its inception, the Commission=92s contribution to
initiative for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries has been more than
=801.6 billion. The Commission even went beyond the terms of the
initiative by cancelling all special debts of the least developed
countries.
But we can, we must do more. We must deliver on the promises we made.
Let me highlight one area: trade. I worry about the body language
surrounding the present Doha round. Some say it is wiser for the
developing world to wait for something better in the future. I cannot agree=
.
We must seize the moment now. A global trade round offers the prospect
of a fair, rules based multilateral system, which takes into account the
many different interests amongst the WTO=92s 149 members. I would like to
hear the voice of the private sector, of the many companies here
tonight, in support of action from all the key players. Working
together, we can ensure a successful, development friendly trade round.
But to return to the fight against HIV/AIDS: no-one can do this alone.
The EE can and is playing its part.
For example, in 2000 the European Commission called on private investors
in Africa to join the fight by providing care and treatment for
employees and their families. The business benefits of this, as well as
the human benefits, are clear. Unilever is one of the companies that
have led the way, and I am pleased to see they are getting recognition
for this tonight.
In 2003 the European Commission adopted legislation to provide for a
tiered pricing system for key medicines. This enabled the pharmaceutical
industry to sell such medicines at normal prices on OECD markets, while
offering the same product at prices near to production cost in
developing countries.
The effect of this, and greater competition, has been dramatic. In 1999,
a full course of antiviral treatment for a worker living with HIV cost
$10,000/year. In 2006, it costs $200/year. Thanks to price decreases,
1.3 million patients are being treated in low and middle income
countries today, compared to about 400,000 only three years ago.
But immunity can develop to yesterday=92s drugs, so it is vital to ensure
that today=92s and tomorrow=92s drugs also remain affordable. I therefore
call on all major pharmaceutical manufacturers, and exporters of
essential medicines, to apply tiered pricing as a general rule -
including on the newest medicines like second generation anti-retroviral
treatments.
The private sector can also develop a partnership with public
authorities in other areas.
Too many Europeans are getting HIV, and too few are aware of this. That
is why the European Commission has asked industry to co-operate in a
public awareness campaign. I am very grateful for the interest that the
Global Business Coalition: Europe, MTV Europe and the European
Broadcasting Union have already shown in this. I encourage others in the
private sector to get on board.
As for Europe=92s pharmaceutical industry, it has devoted vast resources
to providing more and better drugs for treatment. But new efforts should
also be directed towards research on preventive technologies. The
Commission is ready to support industry-led research on AIDS vaccines
and microbicides. Strong guidance from pharmaceutical companies is vital
if this is to bear fruit, and the Commission has already established
partnerships with the Alliance for Microbicide Development, the Global
HIV Vaccine Enterprise and, indeed, the Global Business Coalition itself.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Every company has the potential to contribute to, and be a valuable
partner in, the fight against HIV/AIDS. So let me finish tonight by
raising a glass =96 a half full glass! =96 to those companies that have led
the way: our award winners tonight.
Thank you.
--
Michelle Childs, Head of European Affairs.
michelle.childs@cptech.org. www.cptech.org
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