Civic groups worldwide called on President Yoon Suk-yeol to increase Korea’s contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
They said Korea's contribution was too small, given the size of the Korean economy and its large sales of medical devices to the Global Fund.
Korean Advocates for Global Health (KAGH), a non-governmental organization registered in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Thursday that 312 civic societies from over 40 countries sent a letter to President Yoon through the Foreign Ministry, urging Korea’s larger contribution to the Global Fund.
The civic groups said the upcoming Seventh Replenishment Pledging Conference, hosted by President Joe Biden of the U.S. in September, aims to raise at least $18 billion to fund the next three-year cycle of grants.
“We call on the Republic of Korea to make an ambitious pledge for the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund,” they said in the letter.
According to KAGH, Korea donated $62 million to the Global Fund from 2002 to 2021.
For the 2020-2022 cycle of the Sixth Replenishment, Korea pledged $25 million in support. In terms of contribution, Korea ranked 20th among over 100 donating countries.
Korea is the largest medical device supplier to the Global Fund. The nation sold $460 million worth of essential drugs and medical devices to the Global Fund from 2019 to the first quarter of 2022, KAGH said.
KAGH argued that Korea should raise the contribution to $200 million for three years.
“Civic groups worldwide are requesting Korea to support about $200 million for three years, considering the size of the Korean economy,” KAGH said. “Australia, which has a similar economic size as Korea, is expected to pledge $270 million, Spain, $180 million, and Italy, $200 million.”
Established in 2002, the Global Fund is a partnership of governments from contributing countries and recipient countries, international organizations, and NGOs to support programs to fight AIDS, malaria, and TB.
Korea has been participating in the Global Fund as a donating member of the Global Fund Board since 2002.