Recommendation 1

HM Government Acknowledged

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the House on ODA on 26 November, investing in global health is one of the five ways in which the UK will prioritise ODA spending in 2021 to tackle COVID-19 and promote wider international health security. We will maintain our position as a world leader – in both research, and development programming—and continue to fund existing programmes which tackle previously identified diseases, including through our investments in Gavi and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (‘the Global Fund’). As set out in the manifesto, the Government is Fifth Special Report of Session 2019–21 3 committed to working with international partners towards ending the preventable deaths of mothers, new-borns and children by 2030 and to lead the way in eradicating Ebola and malaria. COVID-19: tackling COVID-19 is essential for getting back on track with ending the epidemics of diseases such as HIV, TB, and malaria. The current pandemic has disrupted service delivery for these diseases and has had a negative impact on people’s ability to seek care. Our commitments to programmes such as the Global Fund address this dual challenge. For example, in response to COVID-19, the Global Fund has provided up to $1 billion from the 5th replenishment to help countries to adapt disease programmes to the challenges of delivering in the context of COVID-19 and to support wider national responses to the pandemic. Looking ahead, the Global Fund will use the funds secured during the successful 6th replenishment, including the UK Government’s pledge of up to £1.4 billion, to support adapted and sustainable programming for the three diseases. Our funding to the Global Fund and investments in other global health initiatives keeps essential activities going, such as bed net distribution and immunisations. Our commitment to non-COVID-19 diseases is also evidenced by our support for initiatives like the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which we have funded since 1995. Our investments in health systems and infrastructure through GPEI have helped get routine services up and running. In Pakistan, the polio immunisation campaign is underway again after a pause earlier in the year, reaching over 39 million children under- five. and indirect health impacts of COVID-19. For example, we will continue to support and strengthen the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the second largest state donor. In addition to our average annual contribution of £120 million to assist the WHO, we recently announced a further £340 million (2020–24) in new core contributions. Furthermore, the UK continues to push for ‘inclusion’ to be central in the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan. This includes emphasising the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights.