Swiss boost funding to fight AIDS, TB and malaria

The Swiss government is stepping up support for the fight against infectious diseases and Geneva’s global health expertise by contributing nearly CHF100 million ($102 million) to UN health agencies.

The Federal Council on Wednesday approved a contribution of CHF64 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) for the 2020–22 period and a further CHF30 million for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the 2019–21 period.

Every year, 2.5 million people die of these three infectious diseases, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, the government said in a statement. With this contribution, Switzerland said it aimed to strengthen health systems and help combat poverty while also enhancing Geneva’s position as a centre of excellence on global health.

The government also highlighted the number of pharmaceutical companies and other global health agencies in the country that made it a hub for convening and coordinating efforts to advance the fight against infectious diseases.

As an executive board member of both Geneva-based agencies, Switzerland “brings its experience to bear and advocates for the effective use of resources”, it said.