Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about its decision to reduce funding to the World Health Organisation and the effects such reductions would have on the international efforts to combat COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The United States has since made a further announcement regarding their funding to and relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues relating to the international response to COVID-19 including the United States. The United States continues to play an important role on global health, and we will continue to work with the United States and other international partners to tackle the current crisis. The United Kingdom has a strong and committed relationship with the WHO and, as the second largest Member State donor, continues to work closely with the WHO. The UK has already contributed £75 million to help the WHO lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and end the pandemic and the UK has no plans to stop funding the WHO, which has an important role to play in leading the global health response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about its decision to de-fund the World Health Organisation and the resulting effect on the international efforts to combat COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The United States has since made a further announcement regarding their funding to and relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues relating to the international response to COVID-19 including the United States. The United States continues to play an important role on global health, and we will continue to work with the United States and other international partners to tackle the current crisis. The United Kingdom has a strong and committed relationship with the WHO and, as the second largest Member State donor, continues to work closely with the WHO. The UK has already contributed £75 million to help the WHO lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and end the pandemic and the UK has no plans to stop funding the WHO, which has an important role to play in leading the global health response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they supported proposals made at recent meetings of G20 representatives for a global mechanism to provide affordable testing, treatment and vaccination for COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held on 19 April. During its intervention, the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of a coordinated global response to COVID-19, including on the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
A globally accessible vaccine, alongside effective tests and treatments is needed to end the pandemic and start global economic recovery. This will need unprecedented global collaboration and resourcing to drive the speed and scale needed.
Asked by: Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what their policy was at the recent G20 meetings of health ministers on the proposal for a COVID-19 global mechanism for all countries to access affordable testing, treatment and vaccines.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held on 19 April. During its intervention, the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of a coordinated global response to COVID-19, including on the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
A globally accessible vaccine, alongside effective tests and treatments is needed to end the pandemic and start global economic recovery. This will need unprecedented global collaboration and resourcing to drive the speed and scale needed.