Why not INDIA join UNITAID?

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

UNITAID is an international drug purchase facility launched in September 2006 to

reduce the cost of drugs for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and to increase

access for those most in need.

It is predominantly financed through a small tax on airline tickets and other

innovative sources of funding that participating governments establish.

In the spirit of solidarity, the contributions of the 'flying-public' go

specifically for the essential medicines that some 25 million people need

urgently but are too expensive, such as second line drugs for HIV and Multi-Drug

Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and ACT for Malaria.

Accordingly, with the increasing access to these medicines through UNITAID, more

and more of those now surviving on the ground are

saying “You Fly, I Live - Thanks!” when they look up into the skies and see

their benefactors flying high.

UNITAID is a ‘lean’ institution, hosted by WHO, and is working closely with

partners such as the Global Fund, WHO, the Clinton Foundation, UNAIDS, UNICEF,

Stop TB and others to get drugs to those in need without having a large

expensive structure itself.

With an operational budget of $300 million for 2007, UNITAID is helping to

provide treatment to people, including many children, in some 80 countries, of

which 85% are low-income.

In 2008, UNITAID will also begin to support national health services in need of

scaling-up of their diagnostic capacity for the three diseases, to better assure

that the newly accessible medicines will be used most effectively.

Inclusive and innovative, UNITAID recognizes the important role of civil society

and community participation and actively seeks input.

The Stakeholders Forum held last May and other consultation meetings have had a

dynamic impact on the development of this new institution, and civil society

delegates have secured two seats on the Executive

Board to serve as representatives of the wider community.

This civil society delegation's goal is to ensure that UNITAID delivers on

promises to increase access to essential drugs and diagnostics, and the

delegates and their support group collaborate with local NGOs and communities to

share information that influences board decisions.

The founding members of UNITAID - Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United

Kingdom, have been recently joined by 21 new members including 18 African

countries.

A number of other nations are presently being asked at Ministerial level to

participate in this new financing mechanism, and in parallel,

civil society organizations and health professionals in these countries are

beginning to mobilize, raising awareness and voices so that their governments

agree to participate.

As all people in need should be able to benefit from this lifesaving initiative,

the participation of additional countries is a key step to increasing access.

The civil society group at UNITAID, national NGOs, health experts and local

communities have begun to work together to ensure that governments are being

actively engaged to become members of UNITAID.

Countries with a high burden of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis or Malaria must receive

accelerated access to high-quality drugs and diagnostics.

It is civil society, including people living with the diseases and frontline

health professionals in these countries, that can drive this forward for all.

Together to heal.

Contact: unitaid@... for further information:

http://www.unitaid.eu

I wish INDIA join UNITAID!!

What does the forum members think???

Loon Gangte

DNP+

e-mail: <dnpplus@...>