Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
UK aid cuts to HIV/AIDS funding undermine global targets for ending AIDS.
Conclusion
The goal of ending AIDS cannot be reached without access to proper care and treatment for all people living with HIV, and action to bring down the large numbers of people newly acquiring HIV (1.3 million in 2022, far above the global target of 500,000 by 2025). More than 40 years after the first cases, the AIDS pandemic continues to pose a major barrier to global development, and COVID-19 has had a serious and significant impact on the ability of healthcare services to reach global targets on HIV and AIDS. Recent reductions in the UK’s bilateral aid spending on HIV and AIDS, alongside major cuts to its funding to UNAIDS, Unitaid and the Global Fund at the same time is, therefore, particularly concerning. (Paragraph 64) The FCDO’s approach to sexual and reproductive health 43
Government Response Summary
The FCDO partially agrees the AIDS epidemic is a major barrier and acknowledges COVID-19's impact, stating it remains a significant funder in the HIV response and continues to support key partners like the Global Fund, WHO, Unitaid, and UNAIDS.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Partially Agree 55. The FCDO partially agrees that the AIDS epidemic continues to pose a major barrier to global development, and acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 on the ability of healthcare services to reach global targets on many health agendas, including HIV and AIDS. 56. The FCDO remains a significant funder in the HIV response. We continue to fund all our key partners, including the Global Fund, WHO, Unitaid, UNAIDS and others such as the Global Financing Facility and continue to support stronger health systems worldwide which help end AIDS-related deaths and prevent new HIV infections. 57. With 17 years and £588m of the FCDO’s support, Unitaid have invested $1.5bn in testing, treatment, and prevention over the past 15 years and their work means groundbreaking advances can reach people living with HIV worldwide: enabling more people to access the best quality care, avert illness and death, and helping drive down HIV transmission globally.