‘We fully appreciate that we have read out to you a list of many actions points and it may take a while to implement them. However there are some easy ones you can address such as ensuring that the people of the Commonwealth have access to affordable medicines and health innovation models that are delivering medicines according to public health needs. Currently, countries across the Commonwealth are struggling to pay the high prices of patented medicines and as such UHC will remain a pipe dream if medicines are not affordable. I urge the Ministers of Foreign affairs gathered here to liaise with their counterparts in trade, finance and health and ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the UN High Level Panel at national and international levels ‘.
This was a call made by our Executive Director and board member of the Developing Countries NGO Delegation to the Global Fund, Mr. Allan Maleche when he addressed the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Roundtable Meeting. Held on 20 April 2018 at the Lancaster House, the meeting was chaired by Rt Hon Boris Johnson, MP, and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
The meeting, which brought together 40 civil society representatives from the Commonwealth People’s Forum and 50 ministers, provided an opportunity to increase the ministers awareness of the People’s Forum Call to Action. The call to action noted that inclusive and people-centred health systems are critical foundations for just, resilient and sustainable Commonwealth societies and called upon the Heads of State to to take a human rights approach to the provision of and access to health services, ensuring no one is left behind. This recommendation was informed by a panel session held during the people’s forum on Universal Health coverage and holding countries to account.
KELIN will work with other civil society members in Kenya and at the international level to push for the implementation of the recommendations. This will include setting up meetings with the relevant ministers to check on the progress of implementation of the recommendations at the national level.
To contribute to the discussion and for live updates follow KELIN on our social media platforms using the hashtag #ourCommonwealth: Twitter: @KELINkenya Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
For more information contact:
Allan Maleche
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road
PO Box 112-00200, KNH
Email: amaleche@kelinkenya.org
Mobile No: +254 708389870
