WORKING MEETINGS SUMMIT2006

International Conference "Global challenges - global actions. Putting forward G8 initiatives on fight against infectious diseases"

In the framework of the Russian Federation G8 Presidency
December 8, 2006
Moscow

Chair Statement

G8 summit in St. Petersburg demonstrated a total commitment of the leaders of the foremost-industrialized democratic countries in their efforts to reach the maximum possible level of the population health all over the world and implementation of the right of each person to life and health. Statement on Fight against Infectious Diseases adopted as a result of the discussions at G8 Summit on July 16, 2006 in St. Petersburg demonstrates the G8 position on the entire complex of problems related to the spread of infectious diseases and offers a global strategy to counter epidemics based on scientific approaches.
Permanent attention of G8 to the problems of public health in general and to infectious diseases in particular is compulsory component of the global efforts against epidemics. Nowadays the task is to make sure that the topic of infectious diseases control will stay on agenda of G8 summits. 
Major principles proposed by G8 are oriented not only to particular diseases, but also to global unified modernization of the public health system. In particular, ways of stepping up effective measures to counter infectious diseases at global, regional and national levels include the following:

• Early detecting and prevention of spread of "new" infections, including avian flu, in order to reduce negative effect and unreasonable expenses related to the threat of a pandemic of "new" diseases.
• Establishment and consolidation of the necessary infrastructures and applying joint approaches to staff training and human resources management in general in health care systems, in particular, in the developing countries.
• Strengthening of the prevention component in struggle against infectious diseases both by providing to the population with all necessary information and skills, and by means of immunoprophylaxis.
• Mobilization of financial resources to implement global programs to fight against infectious diseases, such as Global initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis and Global Fund against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Encouraging stepped-up discussions on the advanced financial initiatives aimed at the universal coverage with drugs and vaccines of everybody in need.
• Promoting participation of the civil society institutions in countering epidemics, including development, implementation and evaluation of effectiveness of preventive programs.
• Stepping up of the capacity of developing countries in the struggle of infectious diseases through exchange of knowledge, technologies, as well as technical and financial assistance on a bilateral and multilateral basis.
• Enhancing the effectiveness of response in emergency situations, including natural and human caused disasters aimed at health protection of the population of suffered territories.

Goals set in the Summit Statement may be achieved only by combination of national actions with the effective cross-organizational implementation of multicultural programs in collaboration with G8 members, and international organizations, including World Health Organization, UNAIDS, Food and Agricultural Organization, World Bank, World Organization for Animal Health and others.
G8 countries having a considerable political, financial, organizational, scientific and engineering potential may notably affect the effectiveness of measures against HIV/AIDS, TBC and malaria, reacting to newly emerging diseases, facilitating access to prevention and treatment, development of new drugs and vaccines based on the principle of non-doubling the existing programs and ensuring high add-value of the new initiatives.
Consistency of decision-making and commitment to summit decisions from each country and G8 as a group in general - remains the sphere of efforts of political leaders, appropriate authorities and professional medical community at the national and international levels.
Major principles, which should be adhering upon all participants including G8 countries in the implementation of the global strategy to fight against infectious disease epidemics, are the following:

• Ensuring the consistency in putting the issues of infectious diseases control to the agenda of the next G8 summits;
• Development of detailed plans for implementation of initiatives at the national level and, if possible, on a multilateral basis with participation of international organizations;
• Commitments to regular review of the work of G8 in the field of tackling with the main three epidemics - HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria thus making inputs into the agendas of the next summits
• Consultations with various international organizations civil society during discussions of possible G8 joint initiatives on infectious diseases in order to insure their highest effectiveness along with implementation of global, regional and national programs.

Maintaining of the topic of fight against infectious diseases in the G8 agenda shall be reasonable only in case of taking of real and concrete actions aimed at fulfillment the commitments. Achievement of Millennium Development Goals depends to a great extent on the degree of commitment to the declared G8 initiatives to fight against infectious diseases.