MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) - practical implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy with a view to meeting MDG 6 by 2015

26.1.2011

further to Question for Oral Answer B7‑0006/2011
pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure

Gabriele Zimmer, Marisa Matias, João Ferreira, Nikolaos Chountis on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

B7‑0086/2011

European Parliament resolution on the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) - practical implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy with a view to meeting MDG 6 by 2015

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the fact that access to health care is a right recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and that governments must meet their obligation to provide public health services to their entire population,

–   having regard to the Stop Tuberculosis programme, housed by the WHO, which has set the goal of achieving a 50% reduction in tuberculosis prevalence and mortality by 50% relative to 1990 levels,

–   having regard to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which provide for halting and beginning to reverse the incidence of tuberculosis by 2015,

–   having regard to the goal of eradicating tuberculosis by 2050,

–   having regard to the European Union’s priorities as defined in December 2005 in the ‘European Consensus on Development’,

–   having regard to the meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in New York in October 2010,

–   having regard to its resolution of 7 October 2010 on health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa and global health (2010/2070(INI)),

–   having regard to Rules 115(5) and 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, with four years to go until the MDG deadline, the incidence of tuberculosis around the world remains a cause for concern, despite the progress made,

B.  whereas the MDGs also include reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health,

C. whereas tuberculosis remains one of the main causes of death in the world, with nearly 2 million people dying as a result of the disease every year,

D. whereas the WHO’s DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-course) strategy seeks to treat everyone in need, including the most deprived and vulnerable, and extend the treatment to the most remote areas,

E.  whereas the epidemic of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a serious problem,

F.  whereas tuberculosis is one of the major diseases involved in cases of co-infection with HIV/Aids,

G. whereas tuberculosis is a striking example of inequality between peoples, given that it has been all but eradicated in industrialised countries,

H. whereas under-staffing and under-funding in the health sector in developing countries are further exacerbating people’s access to healthcare,

1.  Stresses that as access to health care is a universal right, governments should ensure that public health services are accessible to the whole population, including in rural areas;

2.  Stresses that health care systems based on primary healthcare should be strengthened;

3.  Underlines the fact that the Commission’s contribution of EUR 49 billion makes it still the number one donor of public development aid;

4.  Considers that there is an urgent need to explore innovative channels of financing, and calls on the European Union to take the lead with appropriate, comprehensive measures, including in the area of public research and prevention, in order to be able to win the fight against tuberculosis;

5.  Calls on the Commission and the Member States to stand by their funding commitments and do everything necessary to ensure that funds allocated to health care also reach the most impoverished people in developing countries; stresses the urgent need for public health services in the most remote areas;

6.  Points out that every child has the right to benefit from vaccination and immunisation programmes; points out, too, that 8.8 million children under the age of five (half of them in sub-Saharan Africa) are still dying every year of preventable or curable illnesses; calls, therefore, for a greater effort in mobilising resources for prevention and research;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States and the World Health Organisation.