Input into the future EU Global Health Strategy
Input into the future EU Global Health Strategy
Together with partners - Action against AIDS Germany, AIDS-Fondet, Amref Flying Doctors Netherlands, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+ Global) and Harm Reduction International - Aidsfonds has produced a statement in response to the EU’s consultation on its new Global Health Strategy.
We have outlined 6 priorities for the new EU Global Health Strategy:
- Health equity
- Universal Health Coverage
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- HIV/AIDS
- An integrated approach to pandemic preparedness and response
- Fair and equitable access to affordable health technologies
Based on past experience, we know that designing good policies is one thing, but it is not enough: any policy is only as good as its implementation. This is why we have also provided recommendations for funding and implementation.
This statement adds to joint responses to the questionnaire accompanying the consultation, which we have drafted with the EU Global Health Civil Society Coalition.
Context
The EU had an old global health framework (communication and council conclusions), adopted back in 2010. For years, Aidsfonds, as part of the EU Global Health Civil Society Coalition, has been advocating for the renewal of this framework, which, we argued, was outdated, and not adapted to the current policy, political, and global health contexts. Many important issues - namely sexual and reproductive health and rights - were left out or insufficiently addressed, and - for obvious reasons - the 2010 framework didn’t reflect the paradigm shift brought about by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Last but not least, the EU’s focus on global health was waning and funding flattering. COVID-19 was a game changer. Sustained advocacy and the wake-up call provided by the new pandemic led the European Commission to announce the launch of the work on a new EU Global Health Strategy at the G7 Development and Health Ministerial in May 2022. The EC then organised several stakeholders consultations, including with Aidsfonds and partners, in the framework of the European Development Days, and launched an online consultation, which this statement feeds into.