[afro-nets] Global Fund - The ethics of withholding support

[Frank Baiden <fbaiden@hotmail.com>]

Global Fund - The ethics of withholding support
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An issue that is nagging my mind is the ethical dimension of the
Global Fund withholding support to countries whose TB, HIV/AIDS
and/or Malaria Programs become highly dependant on its support.

I prompted to ask this question because of a scenario I encoun-
tered in rural Uganda where the withdrawal of Global Fund Sup-
port had meant a "re-engineering" of drug prescriptions to pa-
tients.

I do not think the Global Fund should have among its options
(arsenals!!), the withdrawal of support on account of perceived
or real mismanagement of its funds. And this can be possible if
the fund shares actively in the accountability processes right
from the country, through to the district level and patient lev-
els - Collective Responsibility!

We should always have in mind that we are ultimately dealing
with sick, dependent patients who often have no other alterna-
tives... National level mismanagement OR no mismanagement. In
sum, the Global Fund should not allow mismanagement to occur, as
withdrawal is not an option.


Dr. Frank E. Baiden
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
mailto:fbaiden@hotmail.com