Philippe Douste-Blazy
Paris
United Nations Under-Secretary-General in charge of Innovative Financing
Chairman of UNITAID executive Board
Cardiologist
French Foreign Minister (2005-2007)
French Minister for Health (1993-1995 and 2004-2005)
French Minister of Culture (1995-1997)
UNITAID is a global health initiative in great part financed by a solidarity levy on airline tickets. Established in 2006 by the governments of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, UNITAID provides sustainable funding to tackle inefficiencies in markets for medicines, diagnostics and prevention for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in developing countries.
Hosted by the WHO in Geneva, the organization's principal strength is the negotiation of low prices for drugs and diagnostics on the basis of its strong financial means. UNITAID does not have its own programs for the distribution of medication but supports programs by its implementer organizations such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative,[3] The Global Fund, the Stop TB Partnership[4] of the WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres,[5] TB Alliance,[6] the Medicines for Malaria Venture[7] and others.