Open letter to Mphu Ramatlapeng, Vice Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Open letter to Mphu Ramatlapeng, Vice Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Brussels, 21.09.2011
Dear Ms Ramatlapeng,
In support of the Forum of HIV Positive Patients of Tatarstan, which is a Russian non-governmental community-based initiative, we are addressing you with the following request.
On December 15th, 2010 the GF Board approved the application of the Russian CCM 'Reducing the Burden of Tuberculosis in the Russian Federation by Consolidating and Scaling up the Effort to Control Drug Resistant TB Including Co-infection with HIV' for the 10th round funding (Board decision GF/B22IDP27).
This application was prepared and approved by the Russian CCM in response to a hazardous situation with TB and HIV+TB co-infection epidemic and because of the lack of sufficient public efforts and resources to fight the diseases, which is reported by independent sources.
For some time past certain political processes, as witnessed by our members, have arisen, that may result in a negative impact on the health and lives of thousands of people, who live with HIV and TB in Russia. We are also confused by the fact that on July 29th, 2011 the Russian CCM Chair received a letter from Executive Director Dr. Michel Kazatchkine stating that the Russian ambassador informed the GF Secretariat of the decision of the Russian Government 'not to accept the 10th round grant, because there are enough budget resources to fight HIV/AIDS and TB (ref. OED/MK/UW/MaK/PB).
We agree with our Russian partners that such a 'manifestation of diplomacy' has nothing to do with the GF rules and procedures, but may have a purpose to influence or postpone or even change the decision adopted by the Board concerning the approval of the Russian CCM application. We admit that it is not the Russian Government that applied to the Global Fund, but it is the Russian CCM, representing also experts and community, who submitted the application in response to vital needs of the Russian population. It is not the Russian Government that may decide on behalf of the GF Board on the approval or non-approval of the CCM application and it is not the Government to accept or not accept the grant.
We share doubts that the GF Secretariat and its Executive Director have an independent position in this issue, as far as there may be a conflict of interest, abuse of authority and misconduct on their side, determined by the urge to raise funds from donor countries, which makes them dependent on the position of the Russian Government.
We are aware that in Russia TB remains the main mortality reason (>60%), which is confirmed by relevant national institutions and proves the necessity for significant spending and efforts to ensure relevant medical and social support.
To our opinion. out-procedural intervention in the application approval process is inadmissible and may lead to delaying the approval procedure, especially since there is a decision of the Board not to fund applications that were not signed within 12 months after the approval by the Board. In case such a deliberate delay takes place it will seriously affect the image of the Global Fund and its management.
We are therefore addressing you to ensure the fulfillment by the Global Fund of its mission and procedures, so that it meets its obligations towards people living with TB and HIV in prevention and treatment based on locally determined needs.
Sincerely,
Koen Block
Executive director EATG