Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1060
- 1065)
TUESDAY 20 MAY 2008
Dr Iain Gillespie and Dr Benedicte Callan
Q1060 Lord Howarth of Newport:
It would be helpful for your member countries and everyone to
know which is better value if you are trying to address the problems
of ill-health across the world and the dangers of communicable
diseases. Do we do better to spend money on specific health objectives
or do we do better to try to improve the general context of conditions
in which people live?
Dr Gillespie: Again, the focus of the OECD is
around the economics of prevention versus the economics of therapy.
There we do have some work beginning. It will begin in general
and it is too early to say how focused it will become. Of course,
we are not the only organisation that is well-placed to look at
good value for money on expenditure on health and other interventions;
we have the World Bank which is at least as well-placed as us,
probably better, to look into countries, for example, in sub-Saharan
Africa, and this is an area where WHO do have rather strong economic
capacities in looking at the relative cost-effectiveness of interventions.
Q1061 Lord Avebury:
My question is about policy coherence in OECD countries. Do you
think that irregular migrants should be treated for the main infectious
diseases, HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, in OECD countries? And what
advice have you offered on the subject?
Dr Gillespie: We have not offered any advice
on that particular issue. I think that is one we would have to
deflect to our member countries to answer. There is no organisational
view on that specific issue.
Q1062 Lord Avebury:
But, if we are trying to prevent the spread of these diseases,
then surely it would be perverse and illogical for member states
to refuse to treat it amongst their irregular migrant populations.
Dr Gillespie: You could well describe it as
that.
Q1063 Chairman:
This might be a question you want to respond to in more detail
in writing if necessary because we have not got time for a long
answer now. One of my interests is the World Bank and whether
you think they are doing as much as they could or should in terms
of investment in the infrastructure in the area which you are
dealing with. If you want to give me a one word answer to that
and then write to us about it, that would be helpful.
Dr Gillespie: The very short answer is that
I am sure they could do more and would like to.
Chairman: If there are particular areas
that you think it would be important for us to know about, then
I would be very grateful if you would write to us and identify
those areas.
Q1064 Lord Avebury:
Could we have a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between
OECD and WHO?
Dr Gillespie: By all means.
Q1065 Chairman:
I particularly want to know about the World Bank investment bit,
because one of the factors coming out is whether the World Bank
does do sufficient investment in the infrastructure. Having said
that, can I thank you very much indeed for your evidence. It has
been very helpful, very focused, and I am grateful to you.
Dr Gillespie: Thank you very much, my Lord Chairman,
I hope you enjoy the remainder of your stay in Paris.
Chairman: Thank you.
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