DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2008/0088) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 30
September 2008
A new strategy
which sets out the way that the UK Government will work with the
World Health Organisation, the EU and a number of other partners
to improve the health of the world's population was launched
today by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson.
'Health is Global: a UK Government Strategy' is
underpinned by £12 million over the next five years. It highlights
the critical global health challenges that the UK and the rest of
the world faces and provides a clear set of actions to respond to them.
The strategy contains ten principles and five areas for action.
The principles set out aspirations for consideration across
Government when setting or implementing domestic and foreign
policy that may affect global health.
It highlights new and neglected areas - the challenges of climate
change, emerging diseases, the links between health and foreign
policy and national security and the increasing importance of
non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries - and
identifies areas for action.
The areas for action are:
- health security;
- strong and fair systems for health;
- more effective international health organisations;
- freer and fairer trade; and
- strengthening the way we develop and use evidence to improve
policy and practice.
Mr Johnson said:
"Health is a global issue; it is one that transcends borders
and boundaries. We have already received praise from the World
Health Organisation for our work on pandemic preparedness, and we
want to build on that success to work with other countries to
address such vital issues as health inequalities and the health
impacts of climate change. We will be looking more closely at the
problem of health inequalities in November.
"This strategy sets out a clear course of action for the way
we will work with others - both nationally and internationally -
to improve the health of the world's population, including
that of the UK."
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said:
"I very much welcome this UK Government strategy, developed
following the publication of my 2007 discussion paper, Health is
Global, which made the case for developing a global health strategy.
"The clear plan set out in this strategy will tackle
important global health issues, such as new and emerging
infections, and safer delivery of healthcare. It sets out actions
that can be taken right across government to take account of the
importance of global health."
The principles are a set of commitments that government
departments will follow to:
- consider the impact of all policy on global health;
- promote health equity within and between countries through our
foreign and domestic policies;
- protect the health of the UK proactively by tackling health
challenges that begin outside our borders; and
- learn from other countries' policies and experience to
improve the health and well-being of the UK population.
International Development Minister, Gillian Merron said:
"Our work on global health is about saving lives - helping
people around the world to protect themselves from disease and ill
health - and also protecting the UK.
"Problems which affect us on our doorsteps are often made
worse by suffering in developing countries.
"That is why we have committed to spend £6 billion by 2015
to help fight disease and strengthen health support in developing
countries and why improving health both at home and abroad will
remain a top priority for this Government."
Mark Malloch Brown, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office said:
"The Global Health Strategy is a crucial step forward in
establishing the importance of improving global health to the
UK's national and foreign policy interests"
Of the £12 million:
- £4.6 million will be allocated to support others, such as the
HPA, Chatham House and BMA, to expand their international activity
- £2 million will support bilateral work
- £4.6 million will support key policy areas for instance on
non-communicable disease and climate change
- £400,000 will be used to monitor and evaluate independent
advice and reviews
The strategy will also enable Government to use existing funds
more effectively. The Government plans to spend 0.7 per cent of
gross national income on international development by 2013.
Earlier this year the Government made a commitment that the
Department for International Development (DfID) would spend a £6
billion on health systems and services up to 2015, with a further
£1 billion invested into the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and
Malaria. In addition the Government is investing around £400
million going into global health research over the next five years.
Notes to Editors
The strategy was published today and is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/International/DH_072715