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benefits for them in terms of international reputation, leadership development and innovation, as well as meeting critical health needs in their partner country.14
These NHS partnerships form part of a much wider movement of community-community links between the UK and developing countries. Although many are not specifically health related, these partnerships are an important part of the grass-roots relationships and influence held by the UK. Officers of the APPG on Global Health are involved in several types of initiative that may be of interest to the Select Committee:
• Lord Crisp co-founded the Zambia Health Workforce Alliance to bring together the many UK-based organisations with health links to Zambia. The alliance aims to provide a focal point for the Zambian host government so that joint work in less fragmented and better aligned to the country’s national priorities
• APPG Vice Chair Kevin Barron MP established the APPG on Connecting
Communities, which specifically focuses on the issue of linking communities in the UK with low income countries for the purposes of development.
Commercial ventures: There is also growing interest within the NHS to capitalise on
higher-income countries that look to the UK health system as a model. These initiatives can spread British ideas and influence abroad, further enhance the reputation of the UK and NHS brands and earn additional revenue to be spent on health services back home.
One example of this activity is Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, which in 2007 established a branch in Dubai’s ‘Healthcare City’. Since then it has treated over 26,000 patients, with steadily growing profits currently at £390,000 in 2012/13.15
An example at a national level is the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which in response to growing interest in its resource allocation model and clinical guidelines founded an international department to spread these ideas abroad. The
department provides advice to foreign institutions and governments on clinical and policy decisions. They have completed dozens of projects in almost every continent, including ongoing partnerships with emerging economies such as India and China.16
The Government has recently established Healthcare UK, a joint initiative by the Department of Health and UK Trade and Industry to help expand and accelerate commercial
partnerships between the UK health sector and partners overseas. Further examples of ongoing and planned ventures can be found on their website.17
3. Soft power through improving health in developing countries
The UK is the world’s second largest donor of overseas development assistance to low and middle income countries (figure 5). As figure 6 shows, national spending on international development will, this year, reach its target of 0.7% of Gross National Income, doubling the proportion that was spent in 2007.
14 Improving Health at Home and Abroad: How overseas volunteering from the NHS benefits the UK and the world (2013)
All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health
15 Data from freedom of Information request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/international_business_2 16 http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/niceinternational/projects/NICEInternationalProjects.jsp (accessed 21/8/13) 17 http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/sectors/lifesciences/item/429220.html (accessed 21/8/13)
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Figure 5. Total overseas development assistance contribution by country18
Figure 6. Growth in UK aid spending 2007-201319
18 Official statistics on Overseas Development Assistance; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/aidtopoorcountriesslipsfurtherasgovernmentstightenbudgets.htm (accessed 21/8/13)
19 Development Policy Blog, using figures from Department for International Development http://devpolicy.org/uk-aid-will-
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Health projects account for around 18% of spending by the Department for International Development (DFID), second only to that given towards government and civil society organisations.20 Typical health projects include vaccination programmes, improving access to clean water and sanitations, providing new health facilities and training staff.
DFID is also a major investor in research to improve health in developing countries, including work that is now contributing to successes in the control of HIV/AIDS. Ongoing studies include establishing the evidence base for effective public health interventions in humanitarian crises and large-scale trials into TB vaccines.
The leading role played by the UK in international development not only gains it influence with recipient countries, many of whom are now rapidly growing into major economic players for the 21st century, but also standing among all. One recent example of this was the invitation by the UN for the Prime Minister to act as one of three co-chairs for the High Level Panel to determine the global goals that will replace the Millennium Development Goals from 2015 onwards.21
4. Soft power through roles in international governing bodies
The UK’s presence and prominence in international organisations is a key part of its soft power and influence internationally. The strengths in health science, delivery and
development outlined in the sections above all help to support these roles – and there are various examples of the UK influencing on, but also being able to influence through, global health issues.
The UK is a member and major funder of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It plays a leading role on several issues, including global responses to pandemics and emerging
infections such as Swine Flu and the recent novel Coronavirus. Several UK figures have also been invited into positions of significant influence at the WHO, including:
• In 2005 Sir Michael Marmot was made the Chair of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health.
• In 2006 His Royal Highness, Prince Charles addressed the main assembly of the WHO on the achievements of modern medicine.
• In 2011 Sir Liam Donaldson was made WHO Envoy for Patient Safety, responsible for promoting the issue of patient safety as a global health priority.
• The current Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies is a member of the WHO Advisory Committee on Health Research.
Health also contributes to the UK’s position in non-health international governing bodies, examples include:
• Having a key role in the development and introduction of the UN Millennium Development Goals in 2000, which have led to significant improvements in health worldwide.
• Leading the EU’s pandemic preparedness during our 2005 presidency.
• The recent Hunger Summit called by David Cameron alongside the 2013 G8 meeting in Northern Ireland, where the UK pledged an additional £375 million of core funding
20 The IFS Green Budget 2012; Institute for Fiscal Studies p155
21 A new global partnership: Eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development. Report of the
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and £280 million of matched funding to fight hunger, donations pledged by all delegates as a result of this summit totalled £2.7 billion between now and 2020.
About the APPG on Global Health
The APPG on Global Health focuses on the underlying, cross-cutting health issues which affect us all wherever we live.
Through research and regular events, it offers recommendations and advice to Parliament and the Government on key policies impacting health in the UK and overseas.
The Group is led by its members, co-chaired by Lord Crisp and Meg Hillier MP and supported by academic institutions, the Lancet and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Together, these allow us to connect the interest, impact and knowledge of parliamentarians with the expertise and experience of the wider global health community.
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