Press Release

Embargoed until 16 March 2001

HAI Europe newsletter raises questions about GAVI's long-term impact on public health policy

Today, HAI Europe published the article: "Immunisation for All: A critical look at the first GAVI Partners meeting" as the cover story of the March issue of its newsletter, HAI Lights. Copies of the article were also sent directly to all members of the GAVI Board.

The article, written by Dr. Anita Hardon of the University of Amsterdam, raises concerns about the initiative's emphasis on new, hi-tech vaccines, its sustainability, the shift away from equity, its deep dependence on private sector funding and the lack of transparency now shown in its decision-making processes.

As Hardon writes, "…what needs to be examined and discussed openly is the question of who is going to direct these important efforts and make sure they reach the people who most need them. Who will ensure that public health needs are addressed before the private sector agenda or that of the research-based industry? Can private foundations, providing the overwhelming majority of funds for such efforts, be held accountable in the way that governments or UN agencies can? And is it really their role to provide the financial support to vaccinate the world's children?"

The article was published in an attempt to broaden public debate on the long-term public health consequences related to so-called public/private partnerships. In 2001, HAI Europe started a multi-year campaign examining public health outcomes linked to public/private interactions. The project will focus on widening debate among stakeholders about the value of such public/private ventures and will collect evidence about the achieved health outcomes of such projects and their impact on local communities.

Health Action International (HAI) is an informal network of some 150 consumer, health, development action and other public interest groups involved in health and pharmaceutical issues in more than 70 countries around the world. It believes all drugs marketed should meet real medical needs, have therapeutic advantages, be acceptably safe and offer value for money.

For more information about the GAVI article or HAI's campaign on public/private initiatives, contact:

Lisa Hayes, HAI Europe Communications Director
Tel: (+31-20) 683 3684
E-mail: lisa@haiweb.org

Dr. Anita Hardon, Associate Professor, University of Amsterdam
Tel: (+31-20) 525 2670
E-mail: hardon@pscw.uva.nl