Unless we are satisfied with today’s treatments for TB—and how could we be—we must be vigilant in avoiding any measures that will discourage market actors from developing the therapies of tomorrow.
Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General [António Guterres] and Mr. President [Miroslav Lajčák] for holding this critically important High Level Meeting.
And thank you, Ambassadors [Aubrey] Webson and [Korro] Bessho, for your leadership on the High Level Meeting and the Declaration.
This meeting, the first of its kind on tuberculosis, unites us on an important issue.
Tuberculosis is an ancient affliction, but also a modern, devastating health threat for millions worldwide. It is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, and the United States believes it deserves a commensurate response.
We have shown our commitment to fighting TB not just with words, but with action. The U.S. Government is the largest bilateral donor in global TB efforts, investing more than $2.8 billion to combat the disease from 2010 to 2014.
Year in and year out, we have shown our willingness to invest generously and collaborate effectively with global partners to eradicate this disease.
TB is not just a large threat, but a dynamic one too. Multi-drug resistant TB, for instance, has hobbled some of our traditional tools for fighting the disease.
In many cases, TB can be adequately treated with more effective distribution of our existing set of diagnosis tools and treatments. The U.S. government generously supports nations struggling with high burdens of TB to treat it more effectively, and we encourage those countries to commit their own resources to building systems that can end TB within their own borders.
But we will not be able to conquer this challenge without new tools. Because we strongly support the development of these new tools, we cannot cede ground on intellectual property rights.
Respect for intellectual property rights is not just an important international legal obligation, but also the very foundation of the innovation economy that we need to fight TB and other deadly diseases.
Unless we are satisfied with today’s treatments for TB—and how could we be—we must be vigilant in avoiding any measures that will discourage market actors from developing the therapies of tomorrow.
Through both private philanthropy and government institutions like the National Institutes of Health, the United States generously supports TB research. By one estimate, the United States provides 44 percent of the world’s donations toward the cause.
Today, I am pleased to announce that we are reaffirming our commitment, with the release of an unprecedented strategic plan for TB research by our National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This aggressive research agenda will address fundamental TB research questions, while accelerating basic and applied work to transform diagnosis, prevention, and treatment with the goal of ultimately eradicating TB.
We are pleased to do our part. In return, we call on our partner nations, other donors, and the private sector to make additional commitments toward the Declaration’s targets, and to develop an independent review process for evaluating progress.
Together, with commitments from all countries and all sectors, I believe we could be on the verge of a breakthrough moment against TB—an effort that will finally put an end to the disease and all the suffering it causes our world. Thank you.
