Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
2
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Br…
Accepted
The pandemic has exposed shortcomings in the multilateral health system. The WHO lacks adequate funds, power and independence. It has done hugely important work in a difficult situation, facing intense pressure from many sides. However, it performed less effectively than under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland and fell short …
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The pandemic has exposed shortcomings in the multilateral health system. The WHO lacks adequate funds, power and independence. It has done hugely important work in a difficult situation, facing intense pressure from many sides. However, it performed less effectively than under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland and fell short on demanding transparency from Beijing, particularly in the early months, leading to costly delays in the international response. Far from being a reason to abandon the WHO, the pandemic should be a wake-up call that prompts reform to give the WHO the powers it needs to respond more effectively to future outbreaks. No country should be able to impede it effectively performing its role of protecting global health. As the second-largest donor to the WHO, the UK is in a strong position to influence this process, build a coalition of member states, and press for the necessary reforms. These should include greater transparency and accountability across its work. We recommend that the Government endorses the recommendations of the Independent Panel (IPPPR), including for greater powers to independently investigate outbreaks, an increase in member state fees, and greater independence for the WHO’s leadership. For each, the Government should assess the chances of success, and explain the efforts the UK is making to promote it, if any.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines specific actions it is taking to reform and strengthen the WHO, including co-sponsoring a resolution at the World Health Assembly, actively participating in the WHO Strengthening Working Group, and leading G7 efforts to push for a stronger early warning system and a …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Br…
Accepted
To be more effective and independent, the WHO needs more reliable sources of funding, based on predictable fees from member states, rather than earmarked voluntary donations. We welcome the UK’s commitment to increase its core funding to the organisation. This should be accompanied by greater efforts to bring together other …
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To be more effective and independent, the WHO needs more reliable sources of funding, based on predictable fees from member states, rather than earmarked voluntary donations. We welcome the UK’s commitment to increase its core funding to the organisation. This should be accompanied by greater efforts to bring together other countries in support of increasing non-earmarked core contributions. We recommend that the Government campaigns for an increase in member state fees ahead of next year’s World Health Assembly.
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights its active role in the WHO Working Group for Sustainable Financing, where it has led calls for increased member state fees and more flexible funding, and actively encourages other member states to follow the UK's lead.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Br…
Accepted
Taiwan’s impressive response to covid-19 illustrates that its exclusion from WHO forums risks harming global health security, making it harder to exchange information with Taiwan and learn from its experiences. In a deeply interconnected world, where the next pandemic could emerge from any region, we cannot afford to arbitrarily remove …
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Taiwan’s impressive response to covid-19 illustrates that its exclusion from WHO forums risks harming global health security, making it harder to exchange information with Taiwan and learn from its experiences. In a deeply interconnected world, where the next pandemic could emerge from any region, we cannot afford to arbitrarily remove key partners from global health forums. We were disappointed that the Minister responsible for global health security was not aware of the UK’s position on this topic, which suggests that the issue may not be getting the attention it deserves within the FCDO. We recommend that the Government builds on the momentum of the joint G7 statement supporting Taiwan’s participation in the WHO with a renewed push for its attendance at the 2022 World Health Assembly.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that the FCDO works with DHSC to lobby for Taiwan's participation in WHO meetings and continues to work with likeminded countries to push for an invitation for Taiwan to observe the World Health Assembly.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Br…
Accepted
When we launched this inquiry, in October 2020, it was not known whether there would ever be effective vaccines against covid-19. Today, less than a year later, all UK adults have been offered full immunisation, and 41 percent of the global population has received at least one dose. This is …
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When we launched this inquiry, in October 2020, it was not known whether there would ever be effective vaccines against covid-19. Today, less than a year later, all UK adults have been offered full immunisation, and 41 percent of the global population has received at least one dose. This is a huge achievement for global scientific cooperation. The UK has made an important contribution, and the UK- backed AstraZeneca vaccine is responsible for the majority of COVAX vaccinations in lower-income countries. However, these achievements are undermined by the failure to ensure anything close to global equity in access. While democratic governments have responded to the needs of their electorates, it is now time to turn our attention overseas. Promoting rapid vaccine access globally is not just morally right, but is clearly in the UK’s interest. It is necessary in order to build prosperous Global Health, Global Britain 23 and healthy societies, preserve the safe travel that underpins the global economy, fend off the threat of new variants, and counter autocracies that are using vaccines to gain influence.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines its commitment to global vaccine access, stating G7 leaders agreed to vaccinate the world by end of 2022. It confirms the UK has delivered 16 million doses, with more in process, and will donate a total of 100 million doses by June …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Br…
Accepted
To defeat covid-19, and tackle future pandemics, a wider range of countries need the ability to produce vaccines. The production of AstraZeneca by India’s Serum Institute offers a good model for technology transfer to build this capacity. Many national leaders have backed the call for a temporary waiver on intellectual …
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To defeat covid-19, and tackle future pandemics, a wider range of countries need the ability to produce vaccines. The production of AstraZeneca by India’s Serum Institute offers a good model for technology transfer to build this capacity. Many national leaders have backed the call for a temporary waiver on intellectual property for covid-19 vaccines. We recommend that the Government pursues a wide range of means to bring about greater manufacturing capacity in lower-income countries, including through expanded technology transfer schemes. In its response to this report, the Government should set out the steps it is taking to transfer vaccine technology to low- and middle-income countries, and its goals in terms of increasing global vaccine production.
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Government response AI summary
The government is working with COVAX and international partners to scale up vaccine manufacturing capacity in lower-income countries, providing technical support to initiatives like the African Union’s PAVM, and facilitating public-private partnerships within the existing IP framework. These efforts aim to see COVID-19 vaccines produced …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office