EU fights Disease and Poverty Nov 01 |
What
does the EU do for anyone except pass new regulations? I am often asked
this when I am in the constituency. It is tragic that 5m people a year in developing countries die
of communicable diseases. In Africa alone, about 20,000 people die each
day. The three biggest killers are HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. A
few years ago malaria and tuberculosis seemed close to being eliminated
worldwide. Sadly, they are spreading today. Millions die although it costs
only £10 per patient to treat these diseases. AIDS currently afflicts 35m
people and most die as they cannot afford the treatment. These
diseases seriously disable large working populations thereby damaging
social and economic development of poor countries. Families of victims
suffer social stigma and bear the financial burden of treatment. The real
tragedy is that the poor know that treatment is available if only help
was! Bashir
Khanbhai´s Report on communicable diseases was approved in the European
Parliament. Mr.Khanbhai, my Conservative colleague, is a pharmacist with
experience of manufacturing pharmaceuticals. His Report includes specific
innovative recommendations:- 1.
establishment of a global fund to combat these diseases 2.
accelerated action for research and development of drugs with shorter
dosage regimes and vaccines for treatment and prevention 3.
comprehensive effort to improve health infrastructure to provide day care
centres where trained technicians can scan, diagnose and monitor treatment
of patients 4.
possible ways of encouraging local manufacture of key drugs and the
provision of lower prices (tiered pricing) of pharmaceuticals for
developing countries so that the poorest can afford treatment. Fighting
these diseases globally does not attract much publicity. A global effort,
like the supply of polio vaccine, can treat killer diseases and reduce
poverty. Such a Report confirms my view that the EU can produce sensible
legislation.
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