Written Question No. 05565 from
M.
Pierre Charon
(Paris – The Republicans)
published in the JO Senate of 02/03/2023 – page 1475
Mr. Pierre Charon draws the attention of the Prime Minister to the reference of the Court of Auditors relating to official development assistance (ODA) in the field of health and France’s presence in international health organisations.
In France, there are many actors intervening in favor of global health. However, according to the Court, this multiplicity is not tempered by solid coordination mechanisms, which is detrimental to the development and promotion of common positions.
For the Court, a restructuring of the working groups in global health is essential. It should be accompanied by a methodical rapprochement between all the French actors, whether they are diplomats, researchers or doctors, in order to create an osmosis between them, like the practices in force in the United Kingdom, the United States and in Germany. Closer exchanges with the pharmaceutical industries would also be beneficial.
In addition, the magistrates ask to initiate a reflection on a financial rebalancing between multilateral and bilateral aid for ODA in health.
Health ODA represented 5.8 billion over the 2014-2019 period, i.e. just over 8% of France’s total ODA, 80% of which went to multilateral funds.
The Court asks to strengthen the financial monitoring of the use of the French contribution within the three multilateral health funds: global fund to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, Unitaid in charge of purchasing medicines, GAVI for the access to vaccines.
Indeed, the Court regrets that France has not yet equipped itself with the instruments that would enable it to ensure that its financing achieves all its objectives, particularly with regard to multilateral funds, the transparency and control of which appear relatively weak . France must, like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany or certain American private foundations, ensure more rigorous monitoring of the use of funds invested in global health.
The Court regrets that France, unlike the most influential countries in this field (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Switzerland), does not have a global health institute. It calls for the policy of placing high-level personnel in positions of responsibility in international organizations specializing in health to be strengthened over time to encourage high-level candidates, among diplomats and scientists alike.
He asks her about her intentions to respond to the observations and recommendations of the Court of Auditors.
Awaiting response from the Prime Minister.