Baroness Hussein-Ece

The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. We have long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Over the coming months, we will work through decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used, and the impact on specific programmes, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments.

The UK is committed to promoting and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), working with governments, multilateral partners and civil society. We use targeted funding, technical partnership and diplomatic engagement to provide strong leadership on SRHR.

The UK has a long history as a well-respected influential global leader on SRHR and will continue to defend and champion these fundamental rights in international fora, particularly for the most marginalised. This is supported by the UK's strategic Official Development Assistance funding. For example, on World AIDS Day in 2024, the Prime Minister announced the Grassroots and Counter Rollback programme. This strengthens local and national civil society organisations' and movements' ability to expand access to SRHR and counter rollback. It focuses on neglected issues, including safe abortion, and marginalised groups whose rights and access to services are being attacked.

The UK is proud to champion and protect reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services, and seeks to take a 'no regrets' approach to supporting the provision of sexual and reproductive health services in all settings, including in conflict and crises.

Reproductive, maternal, child and newborn health outcomes are inextricably linked to strong health systems and the attainment of universal health coverage. The UK works with partners to enable health systems to respond quickly including in humanitarian disasters: from access to skilled health workers, to clean and sanitary health facilities to prevent infection and strong, predictable, supply chains. We provide core funding to the International Confederation of Midwives to strengthen midwifery globally, enabling midwives to save lives, reduce complications, and uphold the fundamental rights of women and girls including in humanitarian settings.

UK investment in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports delivery of emergency reproductive health and dignity kits to meet immediate needs in acute crises and focuses on strengthening supply and healthcare systems in fragile states.

Israel must engage with its partners urgently to establish sustained, safe and timely passage for patients who need medical or surgical interventions not available in Gaza. We recently announced £1m for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through WHO Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED for operating their field hospitals. The Government is keeping existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

The UK Government is committed to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and to maintaining a strong portfolio of financial support to the sector. Our approach to modernising development means working with others in a spirit of genuine partnership and respect and making good on our word. At present, there is no requirement for SRHR programmes to run for a minimum of five years, and future spend will depend upon the outcome of the multi-year Spending Review.