[EQ] Diseases Know No Frontiers: How effective are Intergovernmental Organisations in controlling their spread?

Diseases Know No Frontiers:
How effective are Intergovernmental Organisations in controlling their spread?

 

Volume I: published 21 July 2008

Published by the Authority of the House of Lords – UK London : The Stationery Office Limited

 

PDF file [79p.] at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldintergov/143/143.pdf

 

Available online at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldintergov/143/14302.htm

 

“…..The twentieth century witnessed remarkable advances in many parts of the world in standards of public health and in the conquest of killer diseases, such as smallpox and poliomyelitis. However, during the second half of the century the advent of globalisation (in particular, increased international trade and travel) and changes in human lifestyles (for example, greater human-animal contact) have enabled new infections to emerge and to spread much more rapidly around the world. The onset of HIV in the 1980s and the outbreaks of SARS and avian influenza in the 1990s are striking, but by no means the only, examples. On average, a previously unknown infectious pathogen emerges somewhere every year. At the same time a number of infectious diseases, including some—such as tuberculosis and malaria—which were previously close to eradication, have developed resistance to antibiotics and in their resistant form they are much more difficult to treat. These problems cannot be tackled solely by States within their own borders: effective intergovernmental action is needed.

In recent years there has been a substantial and welcome upsurge in funding for infectious disease control from governmental, intergovernmental, charitable and private sources. At the same time, however, there has been a significant increase in the number of organisations involved, with the result that the landscape of international health has become, in the Government's words, "crowded and poorly coordinated". We have taken evidence from many of these organisations, and it is clear to us that, while there is an urgent need for rationalisation of effort, it is unrealistic to think in terms of imposing coordinating structures from above. The process has to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but it needs leadership. There is no doubt in our mind, and in the minds of most of those from whom we have taken evidence, that that leadership function must rest with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and that, given appropriate strengthening of its management arrangements, WHO's remit and resources should be developed in order to encourage and support collaboration and rationalisation among the many actors on the international health stage….”

 

CHAPTER 3: INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: THE INSTITUTIONAL LABYRINTH

“…In this chapter we review the interaction of the various actors on the international health stage, particularly those concerned with infectious disease control. We look in some detail at the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and then turn to address a number of the key issues which have arisen during our inquiry, including the synergy with which the various bodies are working under the existing system and the case and scope for some rationalisation of global health governance.

Intergovernmental Organisations Committee - First Report - July 2008.

CONTENTS REPORT CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2: INFECTIOUS DISEASES The Wider Picture Poverty Population Growth Governance Globalisation Education   Horizontal and Vertical Prevention and Treatment A Moving Target Access to Medicines Box 1: The GAVI Alliance   Natural or Intentional?—The Threat from Bioterrorism   CHAPTER 3: INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: THE INSTITUTIONAL LABYRINTH The Field of Players Figure 1: The Institutional Labyrinth of International Health Box 2: The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria   The World Health Organisation Box 3: The World Health Organisation The Role of WHO Times are Changing Box 4: The Gates Foundation Surveillance Box 5: The International Health Regulations Box 6: Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network Structure Resources WHO and Europe   Synergy and Coordination Human and Animal Health Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Inter-organisational Collaboration   Global Health Governance The Need for Improvement How Can It Be Done? International Health Partnership (IHP) A Global Compact for Infectious Diseases Networked Governance Discussion   CHAPTER 4: ACCOUNTABILITY AND MANAGEMENT Bilateral Funding Table 1: UK Government contributions to Intergovernmental Organisations involved in Infectious Disease Control   Multilateral Funding A Comprehensive Approach   CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Infectious Diseases International Health: The Institutional Labyrinth Accountability and Management   APPENDIX 1: Ad Hoc Committee on Intergovernmental Organisations APPENDIX 2: Call for Evidence APPENDIX 3: List of Witnesses APPENDIX 4: Principal International Organisations who are involved in or whose activities are relevant to controlling the spread of infectious diseases (not exhaustive)

 

 

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