Health: Tuberculosis

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Excerpts
Wednesday 24th April 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall
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My Lords, the Minister will be aware that the problem of multidrug resistance is not confined to TB; there are many other areas where we have every reason to be fearful about the development of drug resistance. Is the noble Earl satisfied that enough is being invested in research into the development of new drugs to be reasonably confident that we are making proper inroads into this problem?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My Lords, the Government are supporting a range of research programmes to promote the development of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for TB. These include £6.5 million for the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, £23.3 million for the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development and £10.5 million for the AERAS Global TB Vaccine Foundation. However, I will look into other areas of disease where there is drug resistance, and if I can supply the noble Baroness with further information I will be happy to do so.