Date: 26/07/2004
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: M Mangena: Launch of European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR MOSIBUDI MANGENA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CAPE TOWN OFFICE OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CLINICAL TRIALS PARTNERSHIP (EDCTP), Medical Research Council, Cape Town, 26 July 2004
The Minister of Health, Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang,
The High Representative of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Dr Pascoal Mocumbi,
The Executive Director of the EDCTP Secretariat, Dr Piero Olliaro,
The Acting President of the Medical Research Council, Prof William Pick,
Distinguished Members of the EEIG Assembly as well as the EDCTP Partnership Board and the Developing Countries Coordinating Committee,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour to share with my colleague, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, the responsibility of welcoming you to this historical event - the launch of the Secretariat of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, better known as the EDCTP.
Today we are indeed marking an important milestone in the global compact to fight the deadliest medical scourges of our time, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which continue to plague millions of people, especially in the developing world. This landmark occasion is a cause for celebration that should encourage and inspire us.
The EDCTP is a strategic response to the call for comprehensive funding to deal with HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. The need to deal vigorously with these diseases was highlighted at the recent International Aids Conference in Bangkok. There is no doubt that this funding initiative to support the implementation of the EDCTP by the European Commission and Member States will provide a significant financial impetus for the fight against poverty and disease. This immense gesture between the European Union and developing countries must be supplemented with other partnerships between governments and, in particular, the pharmaceutical industry and the private sector, in general.
The funding provided by the EDCTP should, where appropriate and possible, also be complemented by the developing countries' own national and regional investments. South Africa will thus maximise synergies between our national programmes such as the South African Aids Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) funded by our Government, and the operations of the EDCTP. Such an alignment will ensure the leveraging of optimal returns on our collective investments.
Colleagues, the extent of the EDCTP financial investment are not the only reason for our celebration. As the Minister responsible for Science and Technology, I fully appreciate the impact the EDCTP will have for the research and development of scientific knowledge and policy in this continent. The location of an Office of the Secretariat in Africa will significantly facilitate the EDCTP's delivery of science-based advice, and will have far-reaching implications for the implementation of our respective national, regional and continental programmes to fight these diseases. We pledge our commitment to support this investment in order to maximise its effect.
Partnerships such as the EDCTP will significantly bolster the international consensus on the critical role played by science and technology as instruments for sustainable development, which had emerged through the Johannesburg World Summit. By creating an enabling environment and platform for harnessing the output of scientific research into the development of new effective drugs and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of targeted diseases, the EDCTP will further provide a powerful mechanism for translating the work of biomedical and other scientific communities in developing countries into direct improvements in the quality of life of our peoples. This is a contribution, which coincides with the interests of science and the well-being of our communities.
Dear friends, the definition of the EDCTP as a mutually beneficial North-South partnership is another reason for our celebration. The unity between Europe and Africa to support this important global good will certainly impact positively on world public opinion. Indeed, the establishment of two Secretariat Offices with equal status, one in The Hague, and another in Cape Town, is symbolic of our common commitment to this international cause.
There is no doubt that the EDCTP will also make valuable contributions to the implementation of the science and technology agenda of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and programmes of regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). I indeed foresee a critical interface and synergy between activities supported by the EDCTP and other African health and science and technology initiatives. I am convinced that through the work of its honourable High Representative, Dr Pascoal Mocumbi, and other eminent African scientists on the Partnership Board, and the Developing Countries' Coordinating Committee, the EDCTP will develop firm roots, here at the foot of our continent, as a true partner of NEPAD and the people of Africa.
Dear colleagues, the selection of the South African Medical Research Council to host the African Office of the EDCTP Secretariat also warrants a cause for celebration. This must be seen as one of the crowning achievements of our development during the first decade of democracy, and the establishment of a strong mutually beneficial science and technological partnership between South Africa and the European Union.
The first agreement concluded between the democratic government of South Africa and the European Union was the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement of 1996. The South Africa-European Union science and technology partnership has continued to grow in scope and volume, since our participation in the successive EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, dating from the mid-nineties' Fourth Framework Programme, to the current Sixth Framework Programme. This is confirmed by the development of a vibrant science and technology policy dialogue and critical initiatives such as South Africa's imminent connection to the Pan-European high-speed research network, G
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: M Mangena: Launch of European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR MOSIBUDI MANGENA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CAPE TOWN OFFICE OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CLINICAL TRIALS PARTNERSHIP (EDCTP), Medical Research Council, Cape Town, 26 July 2004
The Minister of Health, Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang,
The High Representative of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Dr Pascoal Mocumbi,
The Executive Director of the EDCTP Secretariat, Dr Piero Olliaro,
The Acting President of the Medical Research Council, Prof William Pick,
Distinguished Members of the EEIG Assembly as well as the EDCTP Partnership Board and the Developing Countries Coordinating Committee,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour to share with my colleague, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, the responsibility of welcoming you to this historical event - the launch of the Secretariat of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, better known as the EDCTP.
Today we are indeed marking an important milestone in the global compact to fight the deadliest medical scourges of our time, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which continue to plague millions of people, especially in the developing world. This landmark occasion is a cause for celebration that should encourage and inspire us.
The EDCTP is a strategic response to the call for comprehensive funding to deal with HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. The need to deal vigorously with these diseases was highlighted at the recent International Aids Conference in Bangkok. There is no doubt that this funding initiative to support the implementation of the EDCTP by the European Commission and Member States will provide a significant financial impetus for the fight against poverty and disease. This immense gesture between the European Union and developing countries must be supplemented with other partnerships between governments and, in particular, the pharmaceutical industry and the private sector, in general.
The funding provided by the EDCTP should, where appropriate and possible, also be complemented by the developing countries' own national and regional investments. South Africa will thus maximise synergies between our national programmes such as the South African Aids Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) funded by our Government, and the operations of the EDCTP. Such an alignment will ensure the leveraging of optimal returns on our collective investments.
Colleagues, the extent of the EDCTP financial investment are not the only reason for our celebration. As the Minister responsible for Science and Technology, I fully appreciate the impact the EDCTP will have for the research and development of scientific knowledge and policy in this continent. The location of an Office of the Secretariat in Africa will significantly facilitate the EDCTP's delivery of science-based advice, and will have far-reaching implications for the implementation of our respective national, regional and continental programmes to fight these diseases. We pledge our commitment to support this investment in order to maximise its effect.
Partnerships such as the EDCTP will significantly bolster the international consensus on the critical role played by science and technology as instruments for sustainable development, which had emerged through the Johannesburg World Summit. By creating an enabling environment and platform for harnessing the output of scientific research into the development of new effective drugs and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of targeted diseases, the EDCTP will further provide a powerful mechanism for translating the work of biomedical and other scientific communities in developing countries into direct improvements in the quality of life of our peoples. This is a contribution, which coincides with the interests of science and the well-being of our communities.
Dear friends, the definition of the EDCTP as a mutually beneficial North-South partnership is another reason for our celebration. The unity between Europe and Africa to support this important global good will certainly impact positively on world public opinion. Indeed, the establishment of two Secretariat Offices with equal status, one in The Hague, and another in Cape Town, is symbolic of our common commitment to this international cause.
There is no doubt that the EDCTP will also make valuable contributions to the implementation of the science and technology agenda of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and programmes of regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). I indeed foresee a critical interface and synergy between activities supported by the EDCTP and other African health and science and technology initiatives. I am convinced that through the work of its honourable High Representative, Dr Pascoal Mocumbi, and other eminent African scientists on the Partnership Board, and the Developing Countries' Coordinating Committee, the EDCTP will develop firm roots, here at the foot of our continent, as a true partner of NEPAD and the people of Africa.
Dear colleagues, the selection of the South African Medical Research Council to host the African Office of the EDCTP Secretariat also warrants a cause for celebration. This must be seen as one of the crowning achievements of our development during the first decade of democracy, and the establishment of a strong mutually beneficial science and technological partnership between South Africa and the European Union.
The first agreement concluded between the democratic government of South Africa and the European Union was the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement of 1996. The South Africa-European Union science and technology partnership has continued to grow in scope and volume, since our participation in the successive EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, dating from the mid-nineties' Fourth Framework Programme, to the current Sixth Framework Programme. This is confirmed by the development of a vibrant science and technology policy dialogue and critical initiatives such as South Africa's imminent connection to the Pan-European high-speed research network, G
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