Introduction: Recommendations on Global Health to the Spanish, Belgium and Hungarian Presidencies

More than 450 European NGOs and networks, including AfGH, have joined to ask the new trio presidencies to rescue the health MDGs. In a joint statement to the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Governments, NGOs have made six recommendations, including the allocation of the 0.1% of GNI of donor countries to health cooperation.

Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 is in jeopardy. A structural weakness of health systems along with a continued lack of political will of both donor and partner countries to fulfil their responsibilities in relation to the right to health and the lack of social participation have made the health MDGs those least developed.

Concerned by the fact that there is no possible progress without political and financial agreements, over 450 NGOs and European networks, among which is Action for Global Health, have joined to bring to Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian presidencies of the UE a statement with specific requests to rescue health MDGs.

Under the Spanish presidency the European Commission will develop a new framework for health cooperation and the EU will agree on a common position in view of the MDGs review summit next September.

In this context, NGOs call for progress on the following issues:

1. Securing the necessary funding to strengthen primary health care systems through at least allocate the 0.1% of GNI of donor countries to health ODA; this percentage was recognized by the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health as what needed to fulfil the health systems economic shortfall of middle and low income countries.

2. Prioritising the health sector on the agenda of aid effectiveness, in particular avoiding the risk of orphan countries and sectors, improving donor harmonization and ensuring a civil society meaningful participation.

3. Supporting with technical and financial assistance the developing of prepaid or social security systems to allow free access to health care, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable communities and groups.

4. Adopting and implementing a comprehensive EU Gender Action Plan with a strong component of sexual and reproductive rights and health.

5. Accelerating efforts to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reduce child and maternal mortality.

6. Continuing the EU leadership role in the fight against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by supporting the implementation of the EU Program of Action against HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; maintaining the support to the Global Fund and increasing the support for research and development of biomedical products affordable and accessible for developing populations.

The UE Agenda for Action acknowledges that such an increase of financial resources would be a substantial contribution to the achievement of UN targets. This contribution is vital, especially at a time when several reports show that despite the health MDG commitments and the health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, funding for health is decreasing. The Special Report of the European Court of Auditors “Communitarian Development Aid for health services in sub- Saharan Africa” states that direct aid to the health sector in sub-Saharan African country programmes has fallen from 5.1% under the 8th European Development Fund (EDF) to 3.5% under the 10th EDF.

For more information, download here the text of the statement: ‘Making progress on global health in the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the European Union: civil society recommendations’.

Language versions: