Today, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global TB launched a call for evidence as part of a new inquiry into TB and Global Health research and development (R&D). Expert witnesses, affected communities and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit written evidence by the 30th of June 2020 for the APPG’s consideration.
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Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s biggest infectious disease killer, causing over 10 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths every year. While the disease is curable, the preventive, diagnostic and treatment tools currently available are not fit for purpose, particularly in low-resource settings and in the context of drug-resistance. As the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy clearly shows, the Sustainable Development Goal to end TB by 2030 will not be met unless new tools are introduced by 2025. As it stands, the world is over 100 years off-track on delivering this target.
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has drawn global attention to the need to invest in both global health research and health systems strengthening. Prior to the outbreak, the UK Government had already committed to increasing investments in research and innovation to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Major UK investments in global health research are set to expire in the coming years, as the UK’s future engagement with EU mechanisms will change substantially. This year will also see the publication of the new WHO TB Research and Innovation Strategy, released at the half-way mark of the implementation of the political declaration of the 2018 UN High-Level Meeting.
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Five years after publishing its first inquiry into Global Health Research and Development, the APPG on Global TB will gather evidence on ongoing research gaps and opportunities, as well as newly gathered insights to consider what steps are now needed to drive rapid, coherent and accessible innovation to end TB and what lessons might be learnt for the UK’s broader role in global health research moving forward.
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The full scope of the inquiry and call for written evidence can be downloaded here. For questions or additional guidance, contact the APPG Secretariat at info@appg-tb.org.uk.