International non-governmental organizations are urging donor countries to publicly clarify certain developments at the ongoing board meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, particularly plans to put a ceiling on the fund’s grants to developing countries.
Health GAP and the Global AIDS Alliance said representatives of several countries attending the meeting in Geneva are pushing for the creation of funding ceilings or caps, which the two organizations said will limit the number of people receiving treatment.
The two organizations is also seeking clarification from the donor countries that they there are no talks to postpone the disbursement of funds already announced for May.
Putting a ceiling on funds, even temporarily, would undermine the innovative demand-driven model of the Global Fund where it matches resources with developing countries’ health goals, Global AIDS Alliance Executive Director Paul Zeitz said in news release. He urged the U.S. to lead the global community in making sure that lifesaving treatment is universally available. The U.S. should “recommit to fully funding the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria,” Zeitz added.
