World Health
World Health has long been a central item on the G8 agenda, and the Italian duty presidency, too, will continue devoting particular attention to it. Several improvements have been achieved in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including major advances in pandemic control, thanks to the major increase in the resources available, which have doubled compared with 2000. Despite these advances, there remain many challenges to be taken up in the health sphere, such as cutting infant mortality and improving mothers’ health.
Italy’s world health priorities are stepping up health systems, paying specific attention to the enhancement and training of health workers, and cutting deaths in childbirth and infant mortality. With this end in view, support for the integration of pandemic control programs (vertical programs) with those setting out to enhance health systems is crucial.
In the light of the experience gained in the launch of the Global Fund To Fight HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (at the Genoa G8, 2001), Italy will pursue its exploration of forms of funding additional to the, in themselves innovative, Advance Market Commitments (AMC) for vaccines, primarily via membership of the International Task Force working on the funding mechanisms for meeting the MDGs.
