G7 Ministers of Science Commit to Fight Neglected and Poverty-Related Diseases
On 8 and 9 October 2015, the G7 Ministers of Science met in Berlin, Germany to discuss coordination of research efforts regarding global issues of health, the (marine) environment and clean energy. In their statement of 9 October, the Ministers of Science firstly expressed their resolve to support the fight against neglected tropical and poverty-related infectious diseases in line with the declaration of the G7 Leaders at their meeting in Elmau, Germany on 8 June 2015.
EDCTP indicated as one of the mechanisms to be built upon.
The main health research action points decided on are:
- Fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs);
- Maximising research impact by better coordination of on-going and planned research on Poverty-Related Diseases (PRDs);
- Continued financial support for relevant R&D and operational research on PRDs and NTDs.
“We intend to coordinate with the G7 Health Ministers and other stakeholders to address the full spectrum of challenges, including R&D, prevention, the distribution of drugs for PRDs and NTDs, early diagnostics, and other pressing health concerns such as diseases with emerging resistance (such as malaria and tuberculosis) and Ebola.”
Communiqué of the G7 Ministers of Science, Berlin, 9 October 2015
The communiqué of the Science Ministers further “expressed their intention to support existing work and enhance the mapping and coordination of publicly funded R&D activities and programme support on NTDs in the G7 and beyond. They are committed to better coordinating our national R&D activities on PRDs and NTDs by building on existing mechanisms (e.g. the WHO Global Observatory for Health R&D, The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the European Joint Programming initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance).”
EDCTP Executive Director, Prof. Charles Mgone, was invited to present the EDCTP programme at the meeting on 8 October 2015.
“... the battle against neglected and poverty-related diseases can be won. It is possible not only to control most of these diseases, but even to eradicate many of them. However, for this to happen, it will require a comprehensive, concerted and coordinated approach.”
Charles Mgone, Speech at G7 Ministers of Science conference, Berlin, October 2015
More information
- Communique of the G7 Science Ministers, Berlin 8-9 October 2015 (English; download PDF)
- Declaration of the G7 Leaders – G7 Summit, Elmau, Germany 7-8 June 2015 (English; download PDF)
- Prof. Charles Mgone, Neglected and poverty-related diseases – Speech G7 Ministers of Science, Berlin, October 2015
- On G7 – website German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (in German)
Updated on 15 October with speech by Prof. Charles Mgone, EDCTP Executive Director.