Posted on September 24, 2009

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UN Expands Program to Fight Diseases With Airline Ticket Fees

The United Nations is expanding a program that has raised $1.2 billion over the past three years for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis through a small fee added to airline tickets, the New York Times reports.

Launched in 2006, UNITAID fights life-threatening diseases in poor countries and is funded largely through a tax on the sale of airline tickets in more than two dozen countries. According to UNITAID chairman and UN undersecretary general Philippe Douste-Blazy, the tax currently applies to 7 percent to 10 percent of airline tickets sold and accounts for three-quarters of the organization's financing.

Starting in January, travelers in the United States and other countries buying tickets through booking companies such as Travelocity and Orbitz will have the option of adding $2 to the cost of their tickets to go toward UNITAID as part of the newly expanded program, which will be called Massive Good. The expanded program could add hundreds of millions of dollars to UNITAID's coffers each year.

According to Douste-Blazy, government support for development aid is decreasing because of the global economic crisis, which will make the Millennium Development Goals harder to achieve. Indeed, a recent UN report found that donations have fallen $35 billion short of the pledges made by the Group of Eight industrialized countries in 2005. Similarly, aid to Africa has fallen $20 billion short of the total pledged.

"The consequences for developing countries are devastating, particularly for health care," said Douste-Blazy. "This new program will be the first global voluntary citizen contribution system, and it comes at a very important time."

Strom, Stephanie. “Travelers' Fee Can Help Fight Diseases.” New York Times 9/23/09.

Primary Subject: Health
Secondary Subject(s): International Affairs/Development
Location(s): International

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